'08
Travis Barker on 9/7/08. Credit: Starbux / WENN
Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is still hospitalized for burns he sustained during a horrific plane crash in Georgia last month. Barker and DJ AM were the only survivors of the crash, and AM has already been released from the hospital. Barker must have suffered worse injuries than his friend, because he is still in the hospital and undergoing skin graft surgeries. He gave a brief interview to US Weekly in which he gave some insight into his recovery, revealed that he hated planes before the accident and REALLY hates them now- which is why he traveled by bus from the Atlanta hospital to one closer to his home in Los Angeles to continue his treatment.
Travis Barker opens up for the first time since his tragic September 19 Learjet crash that killed four. He and DJ AM – the only survivors of the crash – suffered second and third degree burns on their hands and lower body.
“I hate planes,” the ex-Blink 182 drummer, 32, tells Us exclusively. “My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened … well, I’m just thankful to be alive! I’m just grateful to be here at all.”
He spoke to Us on Oct. 6 from the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles, where he is now being treated. (He said he was too afraid to fly cross-country from Georgia – where he initially recovered in a burn unit – so he arranged to travel by bus with his father and ex-wife Shanna Moakler.)
How are you doing?
“I am doing the best I can possibly be. I’m so anxious to get out of here. …I’ve just been in surgery after surgery. I have third degree burns basically from my feet up to my waist and both hands. One of my hands was second degree burns and one was third degree burns. I’m trying to have a quick recovery and play the drums again and be able to hold my kids again. [Barker has two children, Landon, 5, and Alabama, 2, with Moakler.] I’m going nuts not being able to see them and spend time with them!”After over 25 years as a vegetarian, you had to start eating meat again. Why?
“I need protein from food rather than just protein supplements. I changed my diet. I would do anything I possibly could if they said like, ‘There’s a possibility you might heal faster if you do eat meat or just change your eating habits.’ So I did. I don’t regret it at all, I feel so much better.”How much longer will you be in the hospital?
“Oh gosh, I hope not much longer. I sit here and I read books and watch TV. I think if this surgery went well, I’ll be here for at most two weeks.”
Best wishes to Travis for a continued recovery. I can’t say I blame him for hating planes! It sounds like he has a strong support system with his family and his spirits are good. It can’t be fun to be cooped up in the hospital like that – but he seems to be staying positive and focused on getting better.
Note by Celebitchy: In related news, DJ AM’s celebrity DJ friends have announced a benefit concert featuring Mark Ronson, Steve Aoki, Danny Masterson and Mixmaster Mike. Tickets for the October 14 Hollywood event cost $20, and the proceeds will benefit the memorial fun for the four victims of the crash, according to People.
Written by MSat
Posted in Travis Barker
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21 Responses to “Travis Barker gives first post-crash interview; hopes to be released in two weeks”
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You so don’t need meat for tissue healing. That is a complete falsehood. (This coming from a science of nutrition major in her final year of classes and dietetic training.) I have been vegan for 2 years now and I typically get ~80g of protein a day, WAY over my needs, and I don’t even have to try. I am way more muscular than any of my peers and I heal from tattoos super quickly, so obviously my body is actually putting the protein into use.
I feel bad for him that he was convinced to go against his values. Most medical doctors know little to NOTHING about nutrition- from what I’ve heard talking to my doctor’s none of them had to take a single nutrition class.
I hope he has a speedy recovery. I don’t know much about him but he seems like a genuinely nice guy.
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Sorry “?”, but if a Doctor tells me to eat meat to get better, I’m eating it. Our stomachs are meant to digest it; our teeth are made to chew it. I’m going to believe someone who’s gone to 8 years of med school over a “nutrition major” (just in her last year of classes, nonetheless) anyday. Just MHO.
You’re a vegan and I respect that… but trying to force it on someone else is just wrong. No one’s judging YOU because of your dietary choices. It’s not your place to judge Travis and his Doctors for just trying to be able to hold his children again.
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Not having a go but really don’t see the need for the nutrition police to come out, all guns blazing, over his recommended diet. If it works, who cares where he gets his extra protein from?
Must be incredibly difficult to contemplate getting back on a plane again after something like this. Glad to hear he’s recovering, hope it continues.
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From my experience, Veganism is not so much a dietary choice as it is a lifestyle (and political) movement. And yes, we (our brains in particular) need the essential fats and proteins that only meat and fish can provide. I would think it particularly important in repair of connective tissue and fat/skin layers in the case of burns. Aloe-vera and a couple of oranges ain’t gonna do it.
I hope they give Travis a nice, big Porterhouse
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It sounds like his doctors are not too bright when it comes to diet and nutrition. Sure start eating meat and that will cure it all! What a total crock of shit! That has got to be one of the most insipid statements ever made….and how much training do doctors get regarding diet/nutrition? Shame on them.
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I work for a medical school and can affirm that “?” is quite incorrect in stating that doctors do not get nutrition training. That is, quite simply, wrong. They DO get this training.
If “?” wants to be vegan, that’s great. I think we all should have the freedom to choose what we put in our bodies. That being said, however, humans are omnivores and as such, we are made to eat meat as well as vegetables and other foods. Choosing to eliminate one entire food group from ones’ diet is unhealthy. The healthiest diets consist of a variety of foods to include meats, fats, dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables.
Extremism, including in ones’ diet, is just not a good thing.
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Considering meat to be a ‘better’ source of complete protein is a myth. As ‘?’ and Ildiko noted, it’s relatively easy for a vegetarian / vegan to consume over 80 g of protein / day, as well as essential fatty acids, from complete protein sources that aren’t meat. Having been part of the healthcare system for nearly 20 years, I can confirm that doctors really don’t have a good grasp of what options are available to vegetarians. Hope Travis gets better advice in LA.
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Do note that Travis is dealing with specialists now, not your run-of-the-mill GPs. I would think they know what they’re talking about when it comes to burn recovery.
The proteins gained from beans, supplements, hay and whatever else is not the same as from animal tissue, period.
No disrespect and leaving aside his current condition, just look at pictures of Travis. He looks stringy, pale and ready to keel over. I’ve never seen a healthy looking Vegan.
Oh, and they are angry and defensive. All. The. Time.
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I don’t know what part of the health system you work in, but I know that medical students at the school I work for do get nutrition training as part of their courseload, so I am a little puzzled by your statement that doctors don’t know what options are available for vegetarians.
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Am I the only pervert here who wonders what shape his willie is in?
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LMAO Skyco. No your not. I was wondering how jacked up all his tats got.
Oh and by the way. MMMMmmmmm Steak. I’m having me a good bloody NY strip tonight.
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Did he really say ‘Oh gosh’ in the interview? I can’t imagine someone who looks so rock and roll saying gosh, haha.
And NO, Syko- I was thinking the same thing.
He said himself from his feet to his waist. So yeah, it has to be burned. Um, emulsified was a term I came across in a story I read. Not sure what the source was so hopefully not true. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I cannot. Imagine.
I think it’s sweet his ex wife is heling so much. They probably always loved each other even after the divorce.
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He looked skinny and unhealthy before anyway… maybe the meat will make him look good.
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?, I don’t doubt you know more than doctors about nutrition. What I doubt is that you know more than doctors about healing burns. You obviously have no clue of the protein amount a body needs to heal 3rd degree wounds all over.
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The key to a healthy, balanced diet is (drum roll please) BALANCE…
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I’m what I refer to as a fair-weather vegan. I believe in the health benefits of a plant-based diet, and I eat plenty of protein. I eat the way I do because I am appalled at factory farming practices and because I want to be healthy and live the longest life possible.
That said…I find most vegans I meet to be arrogant, officious, and totally unfeeling when dealing with people who are not vegan. Peta is a prime example. They ought to lose sleep at night with guilt over the kind of crap they’ve pulled.
I own a fur. It was given to me by my aunt from my late grandmother’s estate. She spent many of her youthful winter evenings feeling beautiful in that coat, and I love the connection to her it gives me. Anyone who criticizes me for owning it can go suck a very non-vegan egg.
I have leather-bound books. My vitamins are coated in glycerin. Etcetera…etcetera.
I have a quite healthy sense of humor about being vegan, and I don’t go to sleep at night wishing for the eternal damnation of meat-eaters (however, when mad-cow or botulism break out, I can’t help but feeling a little bit of that smug “toldjaso” attitude surfacing).
All that said, if a doctor told me that eating meat would provide the protein I needed to heal from burns…I would find myself a local organic beef farmer and eat steak for breakfast, lunch, and dinner until my body was done recovering.
I wish him well and I hope he’s in as little pain as anyone could wish for in such a recovery.
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I never once judged him, unless you count my saying he seems like a genuinely nice guy. I said I felt bad for him having to go against his values.
How many nutrition courses do doctor’s take? Because I’ve taken 9, and I have 7 more to go. The only doctor’s I’ve ever heard of that got nutrition training were naturopaths. I’m not saying that all doctors don’t get training, I’m just saying that I’ve never met one. Take my old GI doctor, for example, who suggested I eat top ramen and ice cream for my Crohn’s disease.
I don’t think veganism is the perfect diet. I believe strongly in my values, but I don’t let that become an excuse to be ignorant. Perhaps if you grew up on a farm and routinely slaughtered animals you had raised from babies then you would also have come to the same decision I did regarding my diet: I can’t stand to kill animals myself, therefore I shouldn’t eat them. I can’t stand to submit dairy cows and hens to conventional agricultural practices, and I can’t afford to buy freerange eggs or raw goat milk. Someday I plan on having goats and hens so I can have milk and eggs, but until then I am vegan.
Please don’t stereotype all of us. It gets old really quickly.
(PS. Funny how all of you non-veggies say that vegans are defensive when I’m pretty sure I made a non-inflammatory statement that all of you got defensive over.)
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Oh, and Syko- every time I see another article about him I always wonder if they are going to report on the condition of his genitals.
I guess that makes me sick as well?
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Regular or extra crispy?
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Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this site? Regards, relationship Reader.
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You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most relationship people agree with what you said.
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