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FOWLER'S THERAPIST FIRED - JUNE 1995
Ron Fowler's (of Jeff and the RF's) 24 hour-a-day life therapist, Dr. Gene Laundry, has been fired, following charges that he starved the 50 year old rock star. Fowler's girlfriend, Michelle McDonald, accused Laundry of "extreme cruelty" in starving the musician, and "cruel and unusual mental abuse". Fowler's family is filing a lawsuit against Laundry, claiming that the doctor took co-composing credits on Ron's songs, and is "taking financial advantage" of the troubled singer.
Laundry was originally hired back in January 1983, when Fowler had ballooned to 300 pounds, and was addicted to numerous drugs and chemicals. Laundry put Ron on an exercise regime, controlling his intake of sweets, and getting him off illegal drugs. Ron lost 150 pounds in the process.
Recently, though, McDonald said Ron looked unhealthy. "He looks sick. I want to fatten him up, get him back on Twinkies and chocolate milk."
Ron's brother Jeff Fowler traces the problems back to the 60's. "Everybody in our group was getting into drugs back then, especially our bass player Steve "Big Mouth" Youngs and Jimmy "James Earl" Coin. They'd go behind the stage before a show and smoke a bowl! Ron screwed up his brain with too much dope. I never got into that, I was too busy baking cookies."
Laundry did get Ron back into the recording studio, but he put his name on songs Ron wrote, and charged $400,000 annually for his 24 hour-a-day therapy. Ron couldn't go anywhere without approval from the doctor, who screened his calls, and isolated him from contact with his family.
Ron's friends and family hope to get him back on the right track, and on the stage. Michelle says "he looks anorexic now!"
photo caption: left - Ron before Laundry - "cholesterol rocker"; right - Ron after Laundry - "ballad of a thin man".