East Bay Ray, Founding Guitarist of Dead Kennedys, Diagnosed with Parkinson's
The iconic punk musician plans to continue performing and touring with the band.
Raymond John Pepperell, widely known as East Bay Ray and a founding guitarist of the influential punk band Dead Kennedys, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, the band announced Tuesday on social media. Ray, 67, co-founded the San Francisco-based group in 1978 alongside bassist Klaus Flouride.
Despite the diagnosis, East Bay Ray intends to continue performing and touring with Dead Kennedys for as long as his health permits. The band expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from fans.
The Dead Kennedys are currently scheduled for several West Coast tour dates, including stops in Seattle and Riverside, California, in October.
Fans have shared messages of support for the musician online, with many expressing empathy and sharing personal experiences with Parkinson's disease. Some noted that treatments can help manage the condition and slow its progression.
The news comes after former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra publicly disclosed in March that he had suffered a stroke. A May update indicated that Biafra was progressing well in his recovery, with significant improvement in his speech and cognitive function, though some left-side weakness persisted.