Health Watch: Toni Braxton, Riot’s Mark Reale, and John Mayer

Toni Braxton’s Lupus makes an appearance, Riot’s founder and guitarist is sidelined by Crohn’s Disease, and John Mayer returns to the concert stage.

Photo: AP Photo

Java Jazz Festival, Jakarta International Expo, Jakarta, Indonesia

Braxton’s Latest Lupus Episode

Having acknowledged her Lupus affliction last year, Toni Braxton experienced a flare-up of the systematic autoimmune disease this week, resulting in the singer being transported to a Los Angeles Hospital. However, the Grammy-winning singer told celeb news site TMZ that she’s “totally fine.”

“I wanted to clear the record before rumors started, and will totally be fine as I’m blessed to having an amazing family for support,” Braxton told TMZ.

Upcoming dates for Braxton include Thackerville, Okla., at the Winstar World Casino Feb. 18; Los Angeles at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live Feb . 19 and Mashantucket, Conn., at MGM Grand At Foxwoods March 23.

Reale Hospitalized

Riot founder and guitarist Mark Reale is in critical condition in a San Antonio hospital due to complications of Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that often causes severe abdominal pains.

Reale, who has suffered from Crohn’s disease for most of his life, was attempting to rehearse for Riot’s upcoming performances in the Northeast as well as the 70,000 Tons Of Metal Grand Cayman cruise.

At this time the band plans to go ahead with its planned shows even if Reale cannot join his band mates on the road. A statement from the band says Reale’s Crohn’s disease problems have impacted the recording of the band’s upcoming album – Immortal Soul – and that guitarist Mike Flyntz has recorded a “major portion of the guitars” under Reale’s “creative direction.”

Upcoming dates for Riot include Jan. 18 in NYC at the B.B. King Blues Club; Jan. 19 in West Springfield, Va., at Jaxx and Jan. 20 in Rochester, N.Y., at the Montage Music Hall.

Mayer Back On His Feet

John Mayer is back to scheduling shows after undergoing throat surgery for a non-cancerous growth in October.

Mayer currently has four appearances. New on the calendar is a two-night stand in Thackerville, Okla., at the Global Events Center March 15-16, and a SXSW appearance in Austin, Texas, at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q March 17. Previously announced is his New Orleans Jazz & Heritage gig scheduled for April 28.

A posting on Mayer’s website says the SXSW appearance will be the guitarist/singer’s first appearance at the music festival since “the March 2000 performance that changed his life.”

Photo: AP Photo

Tiger Jam, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Tickets for Thackerville go on sale Jan. 23. Visit JohnMayer.com for more information.