From Blabbermouth: Eddie Van Halen has developed a cure for cancer. Yep. Is he telling anyone what the cure is? Nope. Did smoking cause his two bouts of oral cancer? According to Eddie Van Halen, smoking did not cause his cancer, and he still smokes. What caused his cancer? He speculates it might have been the metal guitar pick he used. This story comes from Launch Radio Networks, who reported on the Sirius Satellite Radio conversation Eddie Van Halen had with Howard Stern last Friday. I didn't hear the radio program, as my tolerance for Stern is low, but I do regret I missed this conversation.
I feel as if some significant portion of the conversation got left out in the retelling of the event -- but if not -- what do you mean you have a cure for cancer but you are not telling anyone? Metal guitar pick? Eddie, please stop talking about cancer. I am a huge fan but this sounds utterly nonsensical.
Anyone else listen to this call-in from Eddie Van Halen to the Howard Stern Show?
1. I guess to understand why he might believe, and with very good reason, that the metal pick probably contributed, or even out right caused the problem to begin with, you'd probably need to know something about 1)Cancer, and 2)Heavy Metals (no, not the music, which has proven to be harmless).
Heavy metals, such as nickel, are known to be carcinogenic. The metal nickel is considered a hazardous waste product, and is known to cause cancer.
Now, you'd either have to be a guitarist, or knowlegeable about guitar supplies to know that electric guitar strings are often nickel, or like most, nickel plated stainless steel. Thin metal picks are preferably made of nickel.
If you work a metal or jewelry shop, you know the dangers of nickel - from OSHA, or just from your education.
When you rub two pieces of metal together, little shavings and dust may be made. Microscopic, even. Furthermore, a constant rubbing would prevent a protective oxide from forming on the surface, allowing more exposure.
Then, if you put the pick in your mouth, because you occaisionally play parts of a song with only your fingers, or just out of habit, well.....
Sure, Eddies made some bad choices in the past, but at least HE kows what he's talking about.
And it's really hard to be naive about the rest. Anyone who had a cure for cancer, like any medical procedure or device would SELL it, or somehow otherwise want to gain from it.
So, do a google on: nickel "guitar strings" "guitar picks" and cancer. There's some learnin' in them words.
Posted at 12:20PM on Sep 14th 2006 by Mike