by Former Cradle of Filth drummer Nick Barker has opened up about his ongoing battle with stage five chronic kidney failure. He shared details about his current health condition in an interview on the Pod Scum Podcast.
Barker discussed how his medical condition has dramatically changed his life, particularly affecting his ability to tour and perform.
“Well, at this point in my career, as you probably know, I’m experiencing renal failure right now. So I’m on dialysis three times a week for four hours at a time. And that’s pretty much consumed my life,” Barker said. “I’ve gone from one extreme to the other, whereas before the renal failure, I was [on tour] in a different place every week.”
The drummer reflected on how the situation has given him a new perspective on his touring career.
“Today I could be in New York; next week I could be in Sydney, and then the week after that, I’m in Amsterdam, I’m in London. Because of what I’m going through personally, it’s made me appreciate it more now it’s gone. Now I don’t have it, I really do appreciate it. And I realize how much I took it for granted,” he continued.
Barker also provided an update on his path toward receiving a kidney transplant.
“Well, I’m dealing with stage five chronic kidney failure right now, which is full renal failure. I’ve been on dialysis, hemodialysis since January ’23. I’ve been approved by the transplant list here in Vancouver. I did all the pre-assessments, passed all the assessment tests. They said, ‘Yep, you’re totally fine. You’ve just gotta drop some of those lbs. So I’ve got about 20, 30 pounds to lose before they can operate on me,” he explained.
The health crisis represents a dramatic shift for the drummer, who spent decades traveling the world with some of extreme metal’s most prominent bands.
Barker was born on April 25, 1973. He rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of Cradle of Filth from 1993 to 1999, contributing to the band’s first four albums, Wikipedia reported. He later joined Dimmu Borgir from 1999 to 2004. He has worked with numerous other extreme metal bands, including Brujeria, Lock Up, Old Man’s Child, and Ancient.
Blabbermouth noted that Barker was hospitalized multiple times before beginning dialysis. This included a severe episode during a U.S. tour in 2022 that required 10 days in intensive care in North Carolina. The drummer has described the transition from constant touring to being mostly homebound as feeling “like I was in prison.”
Despite the challenges, Barker remains musically engaged as much as his health permits. Blabbermouth stated that he still plays drums, though less frequently. He finds creative inspiration in jamming with other musicians rather than practicing alone. The timing of his transplant operation remains uncertain, as it depends on donor availability. Barker could receive a call at any time, or the wait might extend into next year.
As of October 2025, Barker continues his dialysis treatment while working to meet the weight requirement for surgery. The drummer has been widely recognized for his technical skill and versatility throughout his career, influencing a generation of metal drummers across the extreme metal genre.
