After undergoing double bypass surgery two years ago, the band’s frontman talks about his band’s chaotic reputation, making it up to his fans, and his dream sandwich
You and I have something very serious in common – we’ve both had open heart surgery in the last few years. I’m fine, but it changed me, so I was curious to know if it changed you too.
Oh, on more than one level. The issue isn’t me dying; it’s having to address mortality. It’s constantly on my mind now. I’m 58, I’m thin as a twig, I grew up on the coast eating fish, I was a vegetarian for 12 years. I did, however, drink – mostly hard alcohol – and I have smoked [Anton periodically drags on a cigarette throughout our hour-long conversation]. I thought I was like a teenager. But my life expectancy, because I smoked, is probably less than five years now.
Do you pay more attention to your health? And how do you take care of your heart?
Well, yes and no. There’s 20 pills a day, almost, that I have to take, between heart medication and the ones for being manic – when that happens it’s a bit intense for other people. I’ve got a 13-year-old son; I have to be responsible. I could take better care of myself. I did quit smoking, and then I picked it up on a warm day. I need to stop again.
