Rock legend aims to make 2022 world record with two new hips
Rock legend Brush Shiels has revealed he is aiming to break a world record later this month with a double hip replacement and cardio defibrillator.
The man who taught Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott and Eurovision winner Johnny Logan how to play guitar, missed out on breaking the record for over 70s 100m challenge by one second five years ago.
Now after a double hit replacement last summer, he is gearing up for the new challenge for the over 75s, which he aims to do in 13 seconds, with the help of old friend and GAA manager Sean Boylan
"I got both hips done at the same time and after three weeks' recovery, I could do everything apart from dance the Argentine tango," he laughed.
"I think it was the first time they've done a double hip operation in the Bon Secours but I was only back in the ward when I started a sing song."
In his efforts to start training again, the 76-year-old posted a hilarious YouTube video walking with sticks to the BeeGees hit 'Staying Alive' just one week after the operation.
"I was only a second off US holder Bobby Whilden's 12.77 seconds, in 2015, so now I'm aiming to be the first person over 75 with a double hip replacement and pacemaker to sprint 100m in 13 seconds.
"I never run more than one minute a day every two or three days. That's all I do at the minute but I find stretching keeps my body relaxed.
"I use different techniques of stretching. The Alexander method is used by stage actors to loosen up, ChiGong and the Feldenkrais method to keep me agile.
"ChiGong is all about energy transference in the body, which is funny because I have an implantable cardio defibrillator fitted, and a few months ago I was doing a gig in Holland.
"I was on stage after drinking too much coffee and the defibrillator kicked in, giving me 800 volts. Only for my grimace was caught on camera and posted on YouTube, you wouldn't have believed me," he laughed.
Brush, who lives near the Hatchet, at Jenkinstown, is hoping to attempt the sprint in nearby Dunboyne.
"All going well and weather permitting, I'm going to see if I can try and do the 100m dash later this month with my friend Sean Boylan, who is in charge of the stop watch and the whistle.
"With a sprint, you can either do it or you can't, and going on how I feel now, I'm going to give it a shot.
"I think musicians grow old but never grow up and I have this problem that I think there's nothing wrong with me
"I got the double jab and the gift of the gab and I feel like a little red rooster since I got the booster."