John Stamos has revealed that Mike Love is dealing with some serious health issues. Mike is a co-founder of the Beach Boys, while John has performed with the band for more than 40 years. John made the revelation in a recent Instagram post.
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"I'm boarding a plane to Nashville to play with the Beach Boys at the Ryman Auditorium, struggling to put my feelings into words," John began in the caption. "My beloved friend, father figure, musical hero and mentor, Mike Love, is facing serious health challenges. We hope he'll be doing what he loves for years to come, but we don't know what the future holds. We have tonight."
John continued by revealing that Mike, despite doctors' advice, is insisting that he continue performing.
"Mike is a fighter. Despite doctors, family and friends urging him to focus on his health, he insists on being on stage," Stamos continued. "He says he needs his band, the audience, his friends and drummer surrounding him to lift him up. I've played with Mike for 41 years. I never imagined how deeply it would affect me to see someone larger than life face something so human and fragile."
Sadly, Stamos noted that the version of Mike fans would see that night might not be the version they remember from previous years.
"The Mike Love we see tonight may not be exactly the Mike we've always known. But he's still every bit the Mike we love," John wrote. "...Maybe the hardest part of loving someone is becoming so accustomed to the miracle of having them there that you forget it's a miracle at all."
There Are No Details Regarding Mike Love's Health Issues
John Stamos was smart with his post. He paid homage to a long-time friend and bandmate, without telling fans any specific details about Mike's health issues. He protected his friend's privacy while making people aware of Mike's current struggles and the battle he's facing.
Mike is clearly happy when performing, which is likely why he wants to continue doing so. Hopefully, he does take care of himself moving forward, even if that means we see less of him on stage. Either way, Mike and John undoubtedly have a close bond, and John is doing what he can to make sure the Beach Boys fans are there to support Mike in what he's going through.
