The year 2016 has seen a number of setbacks for Infectus 13 and it’s founder, former Overkill drummer Sid Falck.

After suffering from pneumonia over Christmas and New Year of 2015, Sid was given a CAT scan in early January of 2016. Following the scan, Sid was diagnosed with aggressive COPD. Further, the scan also showed several “nodules/spots” in his right lung. After working with, and receiving treatment from a Pulmonary Critical Care Specialist throughout 2016, it is now reported that as of his latest scan in September of 2016, the “nodules/spots” have shrunk down to next to nothing. As a precaution, Sid received a battery of tests, which found changing pre-cancerous cells elsewhere. Those cells were removed during a surgical procedure. He continues to receive treatment and regular monitoring.

Further, on August 18th, 2016, Sid underwent surgery to fix herniated discs and Stenosis in his low back. While the surgery was initially thought to have been successful, it was discovered that he had suffered a tear to his spinal cord lining and was leaking spinal cord fluid. This resulted in emergency surgery the following day to find and repair the damage.

A follow up MRI scan in October, showed among other things, that the discs in his lower lumbar region, had re-herniated. Because of this, Sid is scheduled for lumbar fusion surgery on December 15th. The typical recovery time for this surgery before returning to moderate activity is 4-6 months.

In a statement, Sid said: “I am always worried that making public any news concerning health issues, can be seen as attempts to solicit sympathy, which is definitely not intended. I’ll start by saying that lately, I have been receiving messages through social media, from people who are not privy to any updates concerning my current health situation, to my friends on my private Facebook account. Some of these messages have been well intended, but also a little... disturbing. It seems that maybe rumours are starting to go around regarding my current health issues. So I am putting this out here to stop any rumours concerning my health situation from getting out of control.

“I am facing some additional health problems for sure. But I have not been given a “death sentence” by any means. I have friends who are, and have gone through much worse than what I am dealing with, and like them, I’m still here. So don’t feel sorry for me. Besides the COPD, which is a degenerative and incurable disease, the situation concerning my lungs is looking much better now, than 11 months ago, as is the concerns about the cells found and removed elsewhere. At the moment, I am only focused on the upcoming fusion surgery of my low back. As a drummer, it is very disconcerting to at times, lose control of one of your legs. However, based on statistics, the surgery have a better than 85% success rate if you follow the directions from the medical experts, which I obviously intend to do, and I have complete faith in both the Orthopedic Surgeon and the Neurosurgeon who will perform the surgery. So I am optimistic that I will get back to business as usual.

“My biggest issue is letting people down. Those who have been rooting for me, and Infectus 13.

“I am only too aware of how far behind my self-imposed schedule we already are. The easiest thing at this point, would be to either just release what has been recorded to date, or to simply give up and end Infectus 13.

“However, I’m a super stubborn person, some might even say delusional in this case, but I firmly believe that I can, and will, finish what I started. I owe that much to both those who have supported me, those who have labored with me, and also to myself. So until I’m told to head to the crematorium, or that I’ll never play again, I’m looking forward to finishing this album in full, and I will continue to deal with each problem as it happens, one day at a time. Love and Health, Sid.”

Over the next 6 months or so, Infectus 13 will be releasing a number of covers of some of their favourite songs, originally intended as “bonus” material for the album. The first track is expected to be released to the bands YouTube channel before Christmas. For specifics, check this location.