Mikkey Dee, drummer of legendary rock band Scorpions, recently detailed his harrowing health battle in an interview shared on Metal Sticks. The musician opened up about a life-threatening sepsis infection he contracted in December 2024 after spraining his foot. Doctors nearly had to amputate his leg as a result.
Dee spent five weeks hospitalized fighting the severe infection. He underwent multiple surgical interventions to combat the spreading illness.
“I got caught with sepsis, and I was in the hospital for five weeks, struggling, really. From the beginning it was a struggle for my life, basically, I would say,” Dee explained. “I had three operations on my right foot and calf. They had to cut open three times and stop the infection. My foot blew up like an overcooked Christmas ham. It was unbelievable.”
The infection’s severity extended beyond his foot and affected his internal organs. “My liver and gallbladder was shutting down. I was yellow and I had a tremendous infection in my body,” he said. “I had so many doctors involved, from orthopedics to internal into infection. Three different hospitals in Sweden provided care. The nurses and doctors did an amazing job to keep me alive and not to even amputate my leg, because that was very close, to cut that bad boy off.”
The 62-year-old drummer’s battle with sepsis represents one of the most serious health crises in recent rock history. Parade reported that the former Motörhead drummer faced a near-death crisis after developing sepsis from a foot injury. Doctors fought to save his leg from amputation. What began as a simple sprain quickly escalated into a life-threatening medical emergency. This required intervention from multiple medical specialists across three Swedish hospitals.
Sepsis is a condition where the body’s response to infection causes tissue damage. It can progress rapidly and become fatal if not treated promptly. Blabbermouth documented that Dee’s battle with sepsis began in December 2024 when he initially developed the infection after spraining his foot. Emergency surgery and multiple operations were required to remove dead and infected tissue. The drummer’s case demonstrates how quickly a minor injury can become catastrophic without proper medical attention.
Though bacteria-free for months, Dee continues to experience lingering effects from the ordeal. “I’m still not recovered. I mean, inside I feel great. I’m bacteria free since many, many months, but the foot in itself kind of hurts in the joints,” he said. “It’s gonna take a long time for the swelling to kind of… I’m sure it’s a little bit inflamed. When I use my foot so much, it hurts a lot. By the end of a set, I have to kind of limp off the stage a little bit because my foot hurts tremendously.”
Despite the pain and ongoing complications, Dee has made a remarkable return to performing with Scorpions. Brave Words noted that the drummer has been managing his recovery while continuing to perform. Sometimes he makes adjustments to accommodate his healing foot. His determination to return to the stage despite ongoing physical challenges speaks to his commitment to his craft and his fans.
“I’m playing a full set, and I feel that I’m reaching the level where I should be. I take the pain and I deal with it,” Dee stated. “And hopefully eventually this will go away and the swelling will go down a little bit more. Maybe we have to do some adjustments next year to my foot. I don’t know.”
The drummer’s recovery journey continues. Future medical interventions may further improve his condition. His story serves as a reminder of the serious risks posed by untreated infections and the importance of prompt medical care.
