Drumming News :
For decades, Michael Cartellone has delivered the pounding heartbeat behind the iconic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. As a “basher-style” drummer—known for his explosive, high-intensity playing—Cartellone regularly channels immense force through his feet, especially his right foot, which controls the kick drum. That kind of performance isn’t just musical—it’s physical. In fact, research shows that rock drummers exert force levels comparable to professional athletes. A single kick drum hit can deliver up to 450 pounds of pressure—repeated hundreds or even thousands of times per show.
But in 2023, the beat nearly stopped. Cartellone began feeling intense pain in his right big toe, jeopardizing not only his performance but also his career. “I reached a point where the pain while drumming became too much to deal with,” he said. “I realized I needed to do something about it.”
An orthopedic consultation revealed a troubling diagnosis: a broken toe, a bone chip, and significant arthritis. The proposed solution? Inserting a steel rod that would prevent his toe from ever bending again. Cartellone didn’t hesitate to reject it. “The idea of putting a steel rod into my toe, so it would never bend again and not cause me further pain, sounded ridiculous,” he recalled. A cortisone injection offered only temporary relief.
That’s when fate—and a friend—intervened. A personal recommendation led Cartellone to Dr. Bernard Martin, a seasoned foot and ankle surgeon with Stony Brook Surgery’s Division of Podiatric Surgery. Although Dr. Martin had never treated a professional drummer before, his four decades of experience with athletes gave Cartellone hope.
Dr. Martin proposed the Keller procedure, a surgery often used to relieve pain and restore motion in arthritic big toes. To Cartellone, it sounded like the ideal solution. “We immediately scheduled the surgery,” he said.
During the operation, Dr. Martin found the condition of Cartellone’s toe even worse than imaging had revealed. “He was amazed that I could walk, let alone drum for hours,” Cartellone noted. Still, the surgery was a success.
What followed was a careful, four-month rehabilitation, during which Cartellone gradually returned to his instrument. “I was afraid I would do something to ruin all the healing my foot had done. Thankfully, that did not happen.” Strength returned. Confidence grew. And the pain that once threatened his livelihood was gone.
Six weeks later, Cartellone rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd on stage for the first show of a new tour. It was a triumphant return. “We had a perfect gig,” he said. Since then, he’s performed multiple concerts—pain-free.
Reflecting on the journey, Cartellone credits Dr. Martin with saving more than just his toe. “Dr. Bernard Martin saved my career. I am not just saying that. He saved my career. I will be eternally grateful to him for doing so.”
The beat, thankfully, goes on.
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