Oz Fox Health Update

The other day I posted about Oz Fox of Stryper falling ill and missing the band's current tour. Now there's news he has two tumors in his head, but no biopsy details yet.

His wife is asking for prayer and donations to help pay for his care. The donations are on GoFundMe and you can read more below.

Comments

[Him]

Here, again, I am hoping for more civility and compassion than we find at other sites. It is truly a cesspool on some comment boards. His and his wife's religious beliefs? Her former occupation? Suggestions that they are in it for the money? Etc. Etc.

Man is not doing well. Prognosis unclear. Obvious that this sort of thing costs a lot of money. People that can and want to will donate (they are currently just south of 50K, which is half their goal). Others will not. But surely any decent human, no less fan of metal, will hope he gets through this.

And sorry for Jonathan Davis and his family, given the passing of his estranged wife Devin. Sounds like she had her demons even with no COD released. But a tragedy for them. Never liked Korn. But that is beside the point. Again, human loss is human loss.

[Him]

My apologies, her name was Deven.

And also condolences to the family and friends of Jill Janus of Huntress. She had an unreal voice even if I could never get into their music. Suicide is no joke, people. Nice to see that her peers came out to say their peace after her death, even if at least one of them used it for an ill-timed, if brief, diatribe.

[Gary]

There's a lot of flaming douche buckets out there Him. I'm a big believer in Karma. As in, you get back what you put out into the universe. You throw constant vitriol out there, that's what you'll (eventually) get back. If it's true, there's going to be a veritable shit ton of unhappy trolls out there in the future. It's pretty freaking simple. Just because you don't personally believe in something or agree with it, there's no need to excoriate someone who does.

[Metalboy!]

Guys, your words are so wise, there’s nothing to add from me because you’ve already said it so much better than I ever could.

I do feel obligated to expound a little more on my experiences seeing Oz Fox AND Stryper perform live ... I can undoubtedly say, Oz Fox is a true monster on guitar, on of the best I’ve ever heard. His style, so clean and clear AND abstract and modern, really unlike anyone else.

And the high quality and prolificity of their last several albums is unmatched among those of our 80’s heroes. Though it may have been somewhat true early in their career, I find it hard to believe they are truly driven by money. I honestly believe the main thing that drives them today is Jesus.

Regardless of what my religious beliefs are or are not, I continue to pray for Oz, one of the nicest guys I ever met in my life.

[Him]

Good insights, as usual, Metalboy!

True, Gary. True. I always try to remind myself of what you said. But it gets harder and harder when I see so much of it on sites that are supposedly about raising the banner and supporting our musical interests. Lives lost and lives in jeopardy? I hope you are right about karma (I certainly find it appealing as a safeguard against being a little too full of myself and a bit too jaded when it comes to others).

As I said very recently, barbed humor is something I love. I get "too soon?" jokes and all of that. But when there is no joke, no punchline, and just some attempt to hurt others, I get a bit dazed.

Another reason BBG! remains my only place to post.

[Bob]

I do have one thing to add about this sad situation. It's sad that, in a country as wealthy and powerful as ours, people's ability to pay, or not pay as the case may be, for their health care when they become extremely ill, depends on the financial kindness of strangers and friends. No more than a few days ago, the CEO of GoFundMe pointed out that the majority of the money raised on that platform is for health expenses. As a so-called civilized society, we should be ashamed of this fact, not proud of it. Yes, it's a heartwarming story when people step up to pay for other people's health expenses, but that need for such heartwarming stories is a sad commentary on our country's willingness to take care of its citizens.

[Metalboy!]

Bob, you’ve hit the nail on the head!

ALL of our tax dollars that are wasted on ill conceived projects, sweetheart deals, government pork and payoffs to foreign governments would be a lot better spent on treatment of American Citizens who deserve it.

[Him]

I'm not gonna' wade into a health care debate. You know me. I wear my political (and this is a political topic) opinions on my sleeve, tucked into a drawer, in my dresser, in the room that I lock every night.

But I will recommend Brill's 2013 _Time_ article, "Bitter Pill," to those of you who have not read it:

https://www.uta.edu/faculty/story/2311/Misc/2013,2,26,MedicalCostsDemandAndGreed.pdf

The discussion of the "chargemaster" is scary. Sadly, not much of what was said in that piece has changed in spite/despite of changes in the past five or so years. And don't worry. That link is safe. I promise.