News of Eric Roche

Subject: News of Eric Roche
From: s&r
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 04:07 PM

Pasted from Eric's site, with apologies to those who don't like pasting. Good to hear that this fine guitarist is recovering.


"It's been a month since my surgery. I am getting stronger every day. I have just had my studio renovated and upgraded. I can feel my creative muscle starting to flex and will spend many days down there under the house. The next stage is a course of radiotherapy (radio 4 please ha ha!). That starts on July 19th and will on for about six weeks. It will be a rough ride but will be worth it. My good friend and musical partner Keith Bleasby passed away last week. I am feeling strong enough to attend his funeral sevice. He asked us all to bring a drum to play at his graveside. Keith was a master percussioinist. Inspired by him, I had a djembe drum made for me last summer. I always felt so grounded whenever I played with him - he rooted the pulse deep down in the earth and I always felt safe. I will miss him a lot. Alison my manager and Gary my agent have been very busy in the office and booking me in for lots of Autumn and Spring performances. Do they know something I don't??! I am looking forward to getting back on the road in the autumn and especially to my residential workshop in Devon. Our second child is about to arrive, any day now. We are planning for another homebirth - so there is plenty for me to be getting on with. This setback in my health has given me a a great opportunity to stay at home for a few months and enjoy my family. Having a new small person in the house is going to be very exciting!! Shanti ERIC"

Date Added: Wednesday 30 June, 2004


Stu

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Copy/Pasting is encouraged here when it has to do with music, Stu. Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: News of Eric Roche
From: Sooz
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 04:13 PM

Excellent news!

Subject: RE: News of Eric Roche
From: s&r
Date: 14 Aug 04 - 02:40 PM

Some more info for those who don't visit Eric's Website

HALF WAY THERE (WHERE?)


I have passed the half way point in my radiotherapy. 17 more sessions to go. I am constantly tired and have enough mouth ulcers to last me a life time. I lost my sense of taste a few weeks back, but it has now been replaced by the taste of ****. Skin burns and my beard falls out in clumps. It must be working. I am where I am. Underneath it all I feel extremely healthy - more healthy than I have felt for a few years. However I don't feel like doing much. I have managed to put together a nice workbook for the September residential guitar workshop. I am working on transcribing a Keith Jarrett piano piece for guitar - something I would never have been able to make the time for before. Other than that it's plenty of reading and napping and playing with the kids. Got my new Nick Benjamin guitar last week. It's the start of a beautiful relationship...

Date Added: Tuesday 10 August, 2004


Milestone


Last night I played my first concert since my cancer operation. I was apprehensive to say the least. I knew I could play, but my confidence hasn't been that low before. I travelled up to South Shields, Newcastle from my home in Suffolk with my road manager Tim and a good friend and great musician Max Gilkes. Apologies to all who turned up for a pre show workshop at 2.30! Communication breakdown - I'll make it up to you next time. I shared the bill with Brendan Croker and Steve Phillips (yes, those Notting Hillbillies minus Mark Knopfler). We decided that I would go on first as I had the furthest to travel after the show. During soundcheck we discovered that my Fishman blend pick up system on my guitar was not working. The batteries had died and there was no where to buy these very specialised batteries. After much panic and phone calls we had almost given up. In the end, roadie Tim "Mc Gyver" Webster improvised with a small torch battery, some tin foil paper and some gaffa tape! Saved the Gig. For those of you who didn't make it, the show was one of the better ones. Opened with Higher Ground as usual and finished after an hour with Bushwhacker. With These Hands was particularly poignant last night. There were some good photos taken. I will post them photo gallery soon. We stopped by the beach on the way home and caught the very last rays of the sun. It was good to see my good friend Jimi Savage again. I had a long nap in the car as Tim whizzed us home. I managed to catch a few more hours in bed before my daily dose of radiotherapy in Cambridge at 11 am this morning. I can't wait to get back out on the road in the autumn, but last nights gig was just what I needed to give me an energy boost before the effects of the radiotherapy take hold. Lots of concerts are booked for October and November so I hope to see some of you on my travels. See you soon. - ERIC

Date Added: Monday 26 July, 2004


Radiotherapy begins


Hello all. After about six weeks of recovering from very major surgery, I am bracing myself for the second half of the battle with the cancer. Although they are very confident that they got the entire tumour, I will start a course of six weeks radiotherapy this Monday morning (19th July). Each session will last about 10 minutes and they will blast the area where the tumour used to be with a high intensity ray. This will kill any possibly remaining tumour cells. Unfortunately it will also kill various cells on the side of my face. There will be some unpleasant sore side effects for a few weeks, but they will clear up fairly quickly. I feel so strong and healthy at the moment, but I expect that this course of treatment will tire me out for a few weeks. PLEASE keep me in your thoughts as we finish off the job of putting this right behind me. I am in no doubt whatsoever that all the positive thoughts and prayers that I received over the weeks and during and following my operation are the reason why I recovered so quickly. I need your loving magic one more time please. Anyone in the north east who fancies coming along to my only summer show this year can catch me at the Customs House in South Shields (Newcastle) on Sunday 25th July. Details on the gig page. See you there! LOVE ERIC

Date Added: Thursday 15 July, 2004

Stu

Subject: RE: News of Eric Roche
From: s&r
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 07:38 AM

For Eric's fans - he's now had his second all clear scan and still positive. Good luck for the third scan Eric


Stu

Subject: RE: News of Eric Roche
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 10:57 AM

I don't know Eric, but I know plenty about radiation treatment of the neck/throat area. I'm sure his general health is coming along fine, but wonder if he might be overly optimistic about how soon he'll be able to sing.

Putting the cancer behind him and having a new baby are, of course, the most important things. Best wishes, Eric.

Subject: RE: News of Eric Roche
From: s&r
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 05:43 AM

Eric had a relapse some time back. Hopefully he's fighting back successfully.

Stu

Subject: RE: News of Eric Roche
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 07:28 AM

Eric is a supremely talented young man. its been a long time since I prayed for anyone, but I'll try anything in this case....

I've kept checking up on the website looking for news and hoping for the best

al