Jim Receives Doctorate from Amherst College

[Wario]

Just saw the current pictures of him at a University lecture....

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/264502_10200152345117054_1768376793_n.jpg

That concern anyone? :|

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200152344037027.1073741828.1403850034&type=1

[Evil Ernie]

That is an odd looking wheelchair. It looks like the type that require someone to push it for him, because he can't reach the wheels and it's not mechanical. If it was required he would probably have one of those 2 things so that he could have mobility.

I suspect that when he's out he has someone wheel him around. But does it concern me? Hell ya it does. He was walking just last year at the SWHOF.

On the upside, the audio from this event is on this page:

https://www.amherst.edu/aboutamherst/news/specialevents/commencement/speeches_multimedia/2013/conversations_with_honored_guests

[AndrewG]

Had mixed emotions seeing the photos.

We heard during the Manchester show from Meat that pretty much exactly at that time Steinman was receiving his honorary doctorate from Amherst. When I saw the photos on Facebook I thought how cool it was that Jim is now Dr. Steinman but at the same time sad to see he was in a wheelchair. I think he was walking ok during the Hall of Fame induction?

Jim confirms during his speech at the college that he'd had a stroke in 2004 and had to re-learn the ability to speak. It's a very interesting speech actually. I recommend those that are interest in his college and musical beginnings to have a listen (it did break up for me a bit audio wise).

Sorry but it's perhaps not the place to be spreading rumours about his health. :? (not saying you were Wario as I think you made an honest observation just think we need to be careful and respectful what we post here).

[AndrewG]

I liked this photo. The speech was obviously at a different time.
In any case I hope he is fine health wise. I wish everyone and especially my inspirational heroes the best of health and the longest of lives. I guess life doesn't always work out the way you hope for. But this doesn't mean Jim isn't happy or able to work. Paul said yesterday that the new Steinman tracks are killer! :))

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/296241_496070027127710_1856791916_n.jpg

[anotherday]

I'm confused, what speech are you referring to Andrew? And was the audio posted above from yesterday or that speech?

[AndrewG]

I'm confused, what speech are you referring to Andrew? And was the audio posted above from yesterday or that speech?

Follow the link. There is a recorded audio of Jim's speech. The receiving honorary degree recipients each gave a talk.

[Evil Ernie]

I liked this photo. The speech was obviously at a different time.
In any case I hope he is fine health wise. I wish everyone and especially my inspirational heroes the best of health and the longest of lives. I guess life doesn't always work out the way you hope for. But this doesn't mean Jim isn't happy or able to work. Paul said yesterday that the new Steinman tracks are killer! :))

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/296241_496070027127710_1856791916_n.jpg

Yup.

Maybe he just wanted a chair with foot rests. Wouldn't blame him. :lol:

[LucyK!]

Andrew is absolutely right - Jim's health isn't 100% and here isn't the place to discuss it.

[AndyK]

This isn't the place for speculation about Jim's health.

We should be more careful with our thread titles and try to avoid the tabloid style titles which can mislead and cause offence and use the thread content here to congratulate Jim on this great honour. I've changed the thread title to something a little less controversial and will now try and tidy facebook and twitter up ;-)

[CarylB]

Agree, and a much better thread title. Jim never strikes me as the kind of person to chase awards. He looks very happy to be receiving a doctorate from his Alma Mater, just as he did when he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Both would seem to have a special meaning to him, and are well deserved.

Being popped in a transporting wheelchair to be taken some distance (and for all I know there might have been a considerable one to walk on a uni campus) isn't necessarily a sign of failing health .. I should know ;) But if you have to walk slowly, it would be embarrassing to cover a long distance when all eyes were on you.

Jim looks happy, and we know he is still working creatively with Meat on songs for the new album. Congratulations on his honour, and cheers that he and Meat are working together to deliver more wonderful music :-)

I like the photo Andrew posted, and agree:

....this doesn't mean Jim isn't happy or able to work. Paul said yesterday that the new Steinman tracks are killer!

That's newsworthy! :D

[Mr. Happy]

Paul said yesterday that the new Steinman tracks are killer!

Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but where did he say this? You said the other day he also said one of the songs was 14 minutes long. Did I miss something? :oops:

On topic, though, I love listening to Jim talk, an hour just isn't enough of it."I revel in being an old geezer." :lol:

[renegadeangel]

That is an odd looking wheelchair. It looks like the type that require someone to push it for him, because he can't reach the wheels and it's not mechanical. If it was required he would probably have one of those 2 things so that he could have mobility.

I suspect that when he's out he has someone wheel him around. But does it concern me? Hell ya it does. He was walking just last year at the SWHOF.

On the upside, the audio from this event is on this page:

https://www.amherst.edu/aboutamherst/news/specialevents/commencement/speeches_multimedia/2013/conversations_with_honored_guests


Great to see Jim get his award. As far as everything else goes, none of my business. I would never speculate on anther's ability to do anything. If nothing I give him even more credit for his recovery.

[AndrewG]

Meat did announce the 14 minute song (with Ellen Foley, Karla DeVito and Patti) at the Manchester show in fact so it's no big secret now. Can't wait to hear that monster of a track but at the same time I've had a fab fix of Meat Loaf recently that Sept 2014 is fine with me.

Interesting to hear that the guy who introduced Jim before his talk said the Bat musical is still going ahead with Kenny Ortega (from High School Musical and Michael Jackson's This is It fame) next year. Would be pretty cool if it happens still.

[Tina.K.]

Congratulations to Dr. Jim for receiving his degree! That's awesome.
Meat told at Manchester Jimmy was receiving it at that moment and he was very proud of him!

[samurai7]

Dr Steinman. Isn't that the bad guy from the Bioshock games? :twisted:
Congrats Jimmy! :cool:

[Wario]

UGH........ that wasn't my intention........ :roll:

But I did forget to congratulate the fine Doctor.

[Ollie241189]

Sorry if I'm missing something obvious, but where did he say this? You said the other day he also said one of the songs was 14 minutes long. Did I miss something? :oops:

On topic, though, I love listening to Jim talk, an hour just isn't enough of it."I revel in being an old geezer." :lol:

It was a status on Paul's Facebook! I saw it the other day

[Breeze]

He had to be on the stage for about an hour. That is a long time to stand --looks like it was a long day. He sounded in good spirits . The Deff Leppard story was great. The comments about his college days were funny. I have heard them before but they were still funny- punctuated with the F word here and there. He mentioned he'd done acid and mescaline in college. I could not help but think about Ray Wylie Hubbard's song " A Drunken Poet's Dream"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30m54CkyIKo

I tried to embed it but did not work. the link works however.

[Breeze]

The posts that up on flicker say ( the picture above with Jim standing and a woman helping him ) this is Saturday the 26 at the actual commencement.

[Louise]

Congratulations, Jim! A well deserved award.
lots love
xxxxxxx