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Maynard James Keenan Suffering With "Lung Damage" After COVID-19

Maynard James Keenan explains how he's "still dealing with the residual effects" of contracting coronavirus earlier this year.

After contracting coronavirus back in late February (and understandably keeping the situation private, as he typically would), Maynard James Keenan has shared that he is still suffering with lung damage and "dealing with the residual effects" of having the illness.

In a new interview with AZ Central, the Tool/Puscifer/A Perfect Circle frontman explains that he went through "some major medications" to recover from coronavirus, though the effects are clearly lasting. To make matters worse, Maynard says he "lost a few family members" to COVID-19, while "several" of his friends got it, too.

Read this: Puscifer: Can the world's most mysterious band really save us all?

"I kind of didn't want to run around screaming it. But it's real. And there's after-effects," he says. "I had to go through some major medications to undo the residual effects. Still coughing. There's still lung damage."

When asked if he is feeling "all right now", Maynard admits, "Well, no. I still have the cough. Every other day, I have these coughing fits because my lungs are still damaged at the tips. And I just got over the inflammation that was going on with my wrist and hands. I had an autoimmune attack on my system in the form of, like, a rheumatoid arthritis. Basically, from what I understand, it attacks weird spots and it's random. So that's what I got. That was my prize."

Of course, Maynard isn't the only rock star who tested positive for COVID-19 this year; the likes of Ozzy Osbourne producer Andrew Watt and Testament's Chuck Billy also contracted it. It goes without saying that Kerrang!'s thoughts and well-wishes are with all those that are suffering.

In happier news, Puscifer will be releasing their fifth album Existential Reckoning on October 30.

Read this: 12 bands who wouldn't be here without Tool