Tom Dumont, guitarist for Gwen Stefani’s rock band No Doubt, is opening up about his recent health diagnosis.
In a video posted to his official Instagram, the 58-year-old musician shared that, after experiencing symptoms “several years ago,” he has been diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes movement problems, symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement and balance, which increases the risk of falls.
“I went to my doctor, I went to a neurologist and I did a lot of tests,” he said in the video. “It’s been a struggle. It’s a struggle every day.”
“The good news is, I can still play music,” Dumont continued ahead of No Doubt’s upcoming 18-show residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. “I can still play guitar. I’m doing really well.”
The musician is now focused solely on preparing for the band’s upcoming shows, which will run from May 6 to June 13 and will see Gwen Stefani become the first female headliner when the venue opens in 2023.
Speaking about the preparations and rehearsals being undertaken by the band, Dumont said, “It’s been a lot of fun. Looking at old footage and looking at old photos and relearning old songs, rehearsing and creating all the video material for the screens at the Sphere.”
He added, “It’s made me think about how grateful I am for the life I’ve had as a musician over the years. And it’s all thanks to our families and our friends and the listeners and you and all the people who have come to the show over the years.”
Tom Dumont said that in addition to reflecting on the decades he’s spent doing what he loves, he was “inspired” to share his health journey online after seeing so many others do the same.
“I’ve been very inspired by other people who have come forward on social media to talk about their health issues and things like that,” he said. “I think it helps erase some of the stigma, and it obviously raises awareness. And awareness is really important for prevention and research.”
