Tom Dumont, the guitarist for the band No Doubt, revealed he has been battling early-onset Parkinson’s disease for years in a shock new video.
The musician, 58, who contributed to smash hits such as Just a Girl and Don’t Speak, took to Instagram on Saturday and published a video discussing his diagnosis.
Parkinson’s is a potentially devastating disease for a guitarist, as it could interfere with manual dexterity, but Dumont assured his fans that he is ‘doing really well’ and he ‘can still play music.’
He said: ‘I went to my doctor. I went to a neurologist, and I did a whole bunch of tests, and I was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
‘It’s been a struggle. It’s a struggle every day… The good news is, I can still play music. I can still play guitar.’
Dumont said the reason he decided to share the diagnosis now is because he was inspired by other people who have publicly discussed their health problems.
‘I think it helps erase some of the stigma, and it raises awareness, obviously, and awareness is really important for prevention and for research,’ the guitarist said.
April 11, the day Dumont posted his video, is also World Parkinson’s Day. The guitarist is dedicated to continuing raising awareness for the disease, as he said he would post another video discussing ‘what Parkinson’s entails.’
According to the World Parkinson’s Day organization, 12 million people currently suffer from the illness, which is the ‘fastest growing neurological disease on the planet.’
Parkinson’s is characterized by symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, slow movement and balance issues. It usually impacts people over the age of 60.
There is no cure for the disease, but there are treatments to help mitigate its symptoms.
In his video, Dumont also discussed No Doubt’s upcoming residency at the Las Vegas Sphere.
‘It’s been very fun looking through old footage and looking at old photographs and re-learning old songs, and rehearsing, and creating all the video stuff for the screens at the Sphere,’ he said.
The guitarist took the opportunity to say he was grateful ‘for the life I’ve gotten to lead as a musician all these years,’ and he thanked his fans.
No Doubt’s Las Vegas Sphere residency begins on May 6 and will end on June 13. Dumont will perform 18 shows over that period with singer Gwen Stefani, drummer Adrian Young and bassist Tony Kanal.
Dumont received an outpouring of support from his fans and bandmates in the comments of his Instagram video.
‘My friend, bandmate, and hero……I love you brother,’ Young, the No Doubt drummer, wrote under the post.
‘Love you beyond words my friend. Can’t wait to get on stage with you again,’ said Kanal, the No Doubt bassist.
