Jimmy Kay of Canadas The Metal Voice streamed a live interview recently with Steve and Millie Grimmett to update fans on Steves ongoing medical condition. Venom Inc.s Tony Dolan and former Anthrax vocalist Neil Turbin joined the conversation. It is the second interview Kay has had in the past weeks since announcement of Steve Grimmetts hospitalization in Ecuador.
During the near hour-long interview, Kay was the first to announce a special fundraiser show in Grimmetts hometown of Swindon (England). Planned for April 1, the event is being organized by Brian Keene at Riffs Bar. Bands for the event will be announced shortly.
Also announced was a special collaboration of metal artists that are coming together to record Grim Reaper material in effort to help raise additional funds for Steves rising medical and recovery costs. Spearheaded by Dolan, Turbin, Kay, and Sy Keeler (Onslaught), contributors currently include Gary Holt (Exodus), Tim Ripper Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), Doro Pesch, Lipps (Anvil), Marta Gabriel (Crystal Viper), Neil Turbin (Deathriders), Jonas Hornqvist (Bleed the Hunger), Ross The Boss (Manowar), Sy Keeler (Onslaught), Bobby Blitz Ellsworth (Overkill), Jimmy Mantas (Venom Inc.), Nick Bowcott (ex-Grim Reaper), John Gallagher (Raven), Mantas (Venom), and more to be announced soon. The recording will be produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Anvil).
Grimmetts wife Millie gave The Metal Voice an update on Steves medical condition. He has now had four operations; yesterday he had the latest to clean the wound a bit more. Doctors opened it up and put a drain in to stop any further infections. The infection has now seemed to stabilize. The wound, however, has been left open. He cant fly until ten days after a big operation so the earliest he could fly home is this Friday. Because of the pressure of the plane, you have risks of blood clotting and renewed bleeding so we have to make sure Steve can actually survive the flight. It is a total of 19 hours door-to-door; its a grueling journey for anybody.
Millie continued, I have a meeting with the doctor tomorrow morning to discuss how he is doing and other recovery options. There is another treatment using oxygen. We are hoping they might be able to do that over the next few days which could speed up the process. Now that I am here, Steve has perked up a bit and it makes me feel a lot better to see him. We are alone out here and we want to go home.
They are very friendly, very nice, says Millie of the hospital staff, even though we dont speak the same language. We still have a laugh, making Steve laugh, making him smile. They do what they can with what they have. They dont have the same resources here. Steve said to me the other day that last week he was in a ward downstairs and the gentleman by him had heart failure and they didnt have a defibrillator so unfortunately the gentleman died. They did all they could. They have done a great job with Steve.
Lying on his hospital bed, Steve Grimmett shared a few words, I am very humbled. I didnt realize that I meant so much to other people. I got no words other than thank you. And when Im out on my new leg, Im going to come out and sing for a big party.
Regarding reuniting with his wife he added, it was such a relief to have somebody that I could talk to. She is not only my wife, shes my best friend and my soul mate. It makes everything easier. I found that in this metal community of ours, we have love and respect for each other and to be fair, Ive never met any assholes.
Steve Grimmett has been hospitalized in Ecuador since mid-January; the singer was amidst a tour in support of GRIM REAPERs latest album, Walking In The Shadows. Millie Grimmett has been updating fans around the globe of the singers condition via the bands official Facebook page since reports started to surface on January 14. Grimmett has endured multiple operations that have resulted in the near complete loss of his right leg.