Black Flag / Misfits Guitarist Dez Cadena Battling Throat Cancer

One of punk rock's most iconic musicians, Dez Cadena, is currently in a fight for his life as he's battling throat cancer. Cadena, who has played guitar and sang for such acts as Black Flag, Misfits, DC3, Redd Kross, Vida and Flag, just finished radiation treatments and it's his hope to return to performing within the next year.

As expected, the cancer treatment took its toll on Cadena, who had to take a long break from touring and who also is having to pay off significant medical bills. As such, a Go Fund Me page has been started to help the rocker on his road to recovery and to help offset his medical bills. A goal of $35,000 has been set, and after five days in operation, just over $6,000 has been raised.

A statement on the Go Fund Me page reads as follows:

Dez Cadena, beloved member of Black Flag, Misfits, DC3, Vida, Ella & The Blacks, Redd Kross, and Flag, is battling throat cancer.

Dez has just finished debilitating radiation treatments, and is confident he will return to active performance again within a year. So Dez has had to take a long break from touring and recording and he had no other income to pay for the quite expensive treatments and doctor's bills.

We ask you today to donate funds to help Dez's cause, as this friendly man has given so much to the music community, and he is literally a living punk rock legend, having played on some of the classic records of the genre, and remains one of the most beloved members of the scene.

We ask you to please consider donating anything you can to help see Dez through the next year, so he can resume his proper place on the stages and records of our future. Thank you for assisting us in helping this very kind man in his time of need.

Best wishes, and thank you again!

Friends of Dez Cadena

Cadena first came to fame with Black Flag in the early '80s, appearing on their Damaged and Everything Went Black albums, both as a singer and guitarist. He appeared on Redd Kross' 1984 disc Desperate Teenage Lovedolls soundtrack, then finished out the decade appearing on albums with DC3. The '90s founds him rocking with Vida, Loaded and Carnage Asada, before he joined Misfits for their 2001 disc, Cuts from the Crypt. He also found time to rock on an Osaka Popstar album in 2006 in the midst of his Misfits work. He announced in June of this year that he was no longer in Misfits.

Our positive thoughts and best wishes go out to Cadena and his family. If you wish to donate to the Dez Cadena Go Fund Me page, click here.

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