Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Show Must Go On

April 18, 2012


The view from my bed in Tokyo

Tonight I was lying in my bed here in Tokyo, Japan. I was still awake at the same hour that Bernard passed away in April 1996. I feel honored that our first show in Japan this year will be on the same day. Bernard and I used to always say "The Show Must Go On," and this is a philosophy I still believe today.

Last year at this time I played my first show after having radical prostate cancer surgery. The doctors were not sure if I was going to make it, but my whole team worked hard physically, mentally, and spiritually.

A year has passed and I'm doing much better. Honestly, I can't believe how good I feel. It's almost as if I have a new life. I'm composing a musical which coincidentally has a song that is a metaphor for my own situation. It's called "Start Again."

When I had my operation, the cancer was so aggressive that I believed I was looking Death in the face. Maybe Mr. Death looked back and said, "The Show Must Go On."

 


April 18 2011 - Me holding a photo a fan had brought in tribute to Bernard


Me, on the day of my surgery


Me, just a few days ago in an original CHIC t-shirt from 1980. As long as I'm living, The Show Must Go On!


"Start Again" lead sheet for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's concert reading


Nile and Nard at the Budokan, April '96 - Bernard's final show


Maybe Mr. Death looked back and said, "The Show Must Go On."