Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris wakes from coma
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Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris has woken from an induced coma he was placed into following a critical medical emergency on 6 August, just before the band's scheduled concert with Lionel Richie in San Francisco, which was postponed as a result. His recovery has been marked by setbacks as well as progress: he briefly regained consciousness earlier in his hospital stay before needing to be sedated again, and has now woken for a second time, which his representatives have described as encouraging.
Paris, 58, remains in intensive care and will require two major surgeries as his treatment continues. His identity was initially withheld by the band, who did not say which member had been affected, before being confirmed publicly the following week by relatives of bandmate Verdine White. His wife, Kathy Merrick, has called the ordeal "a marathon" but said hope remains strong, and a friend has set up a GoFundMe page to support the couple through the recovery.
- Drummer John Paris has woken again after being placed back in a coma
- He remains in intensive care and needs two major surgeries
- Emergency struck before a 6 August San Francisco show, since postponed
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Earth, Wind & Fire are the veteran American funk and soul band behind hits such as "September" and "Boogie Wonderland", still touring more than five decades after they formed. John Paris, 58, is the group's drummer, and had been due to play with them at a joint show with fellow soul star Lionel Richie in San Francisco on 6 August.
Paris fell critically ill shortly before that concert, forcing it to be postponed, though his name and condition were not made public until relatives confirmed them roughly a week later. He has since been treated in intensive care, placed in an induced coma, and requires further major surgery, with his wife, Kathy Merrick, and a friend-run fundraising page helping to support the family through his treatment.
The story matters both because of Paris's prominent role in one of the best-selling bands in popular music history, and because his case has drawn wider attention to how sudden medical emergencies affect touring musicians and their families, including the financial and physical toll of prolonged intensive care.
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Originally published by Rolling Stone as “Earth, Wind, & Fire Shares Health Update on Drummer John Paris: ‘Our Hope Is Strong’”.