In a new interview with Italy’s Almarok, legendary extreme metal drummer Nick Barker (LOCK UP, BRUJERIA, DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH) once again opened up about some of his recent health challenges. He said: “Well, as many of you probably know, I went through kidney failure. I’m stage five chronic kidney disease, which means my kidneys have totally failed and I have to have dialysis four times a week for four hours each time. And this is basically what is keeping me alive right now. I’m on the transplant list, so I hope to get a new kidney sometime later this year. And this means that I cannot tour or make music or travel, because of my dialysis schedule. So, I have a GoFundMe page, which helps me, basically because I cannot earn any money because I can’t work anymore. So, it’s for fans to donate anything if they feel like it. And I appreciate all the help from everyone, and I hope to be back playing the drums very, very soon.”

Last year, a previous GoFundMe campaign was launched by Nick‘s friends, including VENOM INC. mainman TONY  “DEMOLITION MAN” DOLAN, in July 2022 to help pay for his medical bills and living expenses while he undergoes dialysis.

The 50-year-old British-born drummer, who currently plays for Los Angeles-based metallers BRUJERIA, U.K. hardcore band BORSTAL and Swedish black metallers SHINING, was hospitalized multiple times throughout 2022.

Barker took to Instagram in July 2022, posting a photo of himself in hospital and citing kidney stones as the reason for his hospitalization.

Nick started playing drums at the age of 13 years old, but his professional career began back in 1993 at age 20 when he joined U.K. black metal icons CRADLE OF FILTH. After four albums and numerous world tours that followed, Nick went on to join the ranks of Norwegian black metal rivals DIMMU BORGIR in 1999 and went on to enjoy even greater commercial success with them up until 2004.

Nick has also been a busy session player in both live and studio environments, lending his skills to the likes of such heavyweight metal acts as TESTAMENT, OLD MAN’S CHILD, EXODUS, BRUJERIA, GORGOROTH, GOD SEED, ANAAL NATHRAKH and BENEDICTION, to name a few.

He filled in for VENOM INC at ALCATRAZ and BLOODSTOCK in 2022, at which shows the band played the album ‘Black Metal’ in its entirety.