How he became a chiropractor to rock stars

The phrase "better lucky than good" could have been coined with Thaxton in mind. Or so it seems. Not that Thaxton isn't good, but few have been as lucky when it comes to career-defining breaks.

Thaxton was just out of school in Dallas in the early 1990s, when he treated a friend, who was a "high up" in the local concert scene. He didn't charge the friend, in hopes that if a rock band coming through town ever needed a chiropractor backstage, the friend would give Thaxton a call.

The call came in 1991, when Guns N' Roses (GNR) came to town.

Thaxton treated members of the band's crew, who trickled word of his good work to lead singer, Axl Rose. Soon, a star's chiropractor was born. Rose's manager called Thaxton and asked him to go on a two-week tour.

He accepted, but his association with the West Coast rockers stretched for far longer than two weeks.

"When I asked them when they were planning on sending me home, the tour manager laughed and said, 'You're never going home.'"

As the tour was coming to an end, a bodyguard who once worked for another late '80s band, Skid Row, referred Bon Jovi to Thaxton.

BON JOVI TESTIMONIAL

"Steve Thaxton is more than just a chiropractor," Jon Bon Jovi told Chiropractic Economics. "Through the years we have also developed a friendship and almost a trainer/athlete approach to the physical aspect of performing.

"We approach world tours like a pro athlete approaches the season. I only wish there were more guys like him out there. I can only imagine how many athletes, performers, or just people who are health conscience could benefit from this approach."

Both Rose and Bon Jovi attempted to woo the DC with promises of setting him up in a practice dedicated to them, but Thaxton wanted to do his own thing and help more than just a handful of people.

He still keeps in touch with GNR guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan, both now members of Velvet Revolver. He talks with Jon Bon Jovi once a month or so and e-mails him regularly.

While it's more than a decade since his rock days, Thaxton can recall most moments of the time spent touring with the two bands. He still does the occasional weekend or week tour. He knows how fortunate he was to have landed the gigs at all.

"I'm a firm believer that the harder I work, the luckier I get," he says. "Luck is somewhat created, but sometimes you're in the right place at the right time. It was the greatest job. I wasn't even capable of dreaming that big for a job like that."