Prolific Drummer Nick Barker’s Family Set Up a GoFundMe to Help Pay for His Fight Against Kidney Failure
There’s a common conception that health care outside of the US is all sunshine and rainbows, but as it turns out that’s just not the case all the time. Such is the realization that ex-Cradle of Filth/ex-Brujeria/current Shining drummer Nick Barker and his family have recently gotten when he started getting treatment for liver failure. And they’re doing the apparently logical thing to do in 2023 — it’s crowdsourcing time, baybee.
According to a post on the drummer’s GoFundMe page, the problem occurred when he was diagnosed with liver failure. Barker had apparently begin seeing doctors back in 2022 for what was at the time an unknown ailment that eventually led to his kidney failure diagnosis.
Ever since receiving his diagnosis, Barker’s friends and family set up the crowdsourcing page in question, calling upon friends, family, and fans to help chip in to make sure Barker gets the best care possible. The following snippet was written by Brandi Campanile on behalf of Barker.
“Nicholas Barker…. If asked to write anything, it would be a list of phenomenal statements, but I will just state the most obvious and this is definitely not the way in which one wants to state them: Amazing drummer… duh. Loving father…. Oh goodness does this man love his daughters! Amazing friend… absofuckinglutely… Man would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Always there to uplift, provide a kind word and make sure you know you are amazing. Even if its something you don’t want to hear, he will tell you with love, cause that’s just who he is. Always doing things to make us laugh with his antics.
“He has given us his entire life with music, on stage or in the studio. Giving us music that has us raging. His achievements are definitely awe inspiring!!!!
“Maybe I am biased, but it is what it is.
“But writing this statement, is not something he planned for.
“As many noticed, back in 2022, Nick was hospitalized several times… a couple of these times while on tour. During these visits, it was discovered that he was losing kidney function. With determination, he tried to continue caring for himself while maintaining the tours and his musical career. His life has been dedicated to it along with his daughters. Both of which are his life blood.
“Unfortunately, it has all taken its toll and the kidneys are in full failure. With all things, he has been going through this the best he can, on his own. After giving so much of himself to his music, to us, his friends and fans….. He now needs us as he cannot currently work due to the dialysis schedule and focusing on his health.”
Barker’s been a professional drummer since he joined Cradle of Filth back in 1993. Since then, he’s played for a wide range of acts, including Dimmu Borgir, Exodus, and Gorgoroth, just to name a few.
We at MetalSucks hope Barker gets the best treatment possible. If you can afford to do so, please consider donating to the GoFundMe page. Though they’ve raised £28,606, which is a couple thousand over their £25,000 goal, all extra money will further benefit Barker and his treatment.
