Hallyday producer says French spine operation was 'botched'
French rock legend Johnny Hallyday has been revived from an artificially-induced coma after reparative surgery in California following an operation in Paris that American surgeons said was 'botched', according to the singer’s producer.
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A November operation to fix French rock legend Johnny Hallyday's slipped disc was "botched", his producer Jean-Claude Camus said as the singer was revived from an artificially-induced coma.
The 66-year-old was admitted to Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles on Monday, suffering from an infection that developed after his previous operation in Paris.
"We were told the operation [in Paris] was botched," Camus told AFP Friday. "The surgeons in Los Angeles [who re-operated overnight on Wednesday] said they were outraged."
The producer confirmed that Hallyday had been induced into an artificial coma to relieve his pain, but had since been revived.
Camus said he thought Halliday had begun his US tour far too soon, and "with the permission of the Parisian surgeon."
"The doctor assured me that there was no problem with Johnny going on this trip, which amazed me. I have suffered slipped discs myself," he said.
Tour 66 suspended?
Hallyday was in the midst of performing to huge audiences during a major tour, billed as his last, when he travelled to his home in Los Angeles.
His "Tour 66" show was scheduled to return to the stage on January 8 in the northern French city of Amiens.
Camus questioned the wisdom of Hallyday continuing the tour.
"I will only let this happen if the doctors say it's OK," Camus told RTL Radio.
Dubbed the French Elvis, Hallyday has sold more than 100 million records including a string of hits over more than four decades.
The singer has suffered several health problems since he was operated on for colon cancer during the summer.
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