An anonymous source connected to Brian Burkheiser’s surgery has spoken to Blunt Mag, confirming his recovery from Eagle Syndrome and pushing back against the health-related rumours surrounding his exit from I Prevail.
Ever since I Prevail confirmed their split with co-vocalist Brian Burkheiser, fans have been left piecing together the why. The official statement was brief and diplomatic. No drama, no details – just a mutual parting and a polite farewell. But when the band wiped their socials clean, unfollowed Burkheiser, and rebranded overnight, fans started reading between the lines.
One of the more prominent theories floating around has been that Burkheiser’s departure from I Prevail was linked to his ongoing health issues. He sat out shows in 2024 following multiple surgeries to treat Eagle Syndrome, a rare condition affecting the neck and throat. The timeline alone made it an easy assumption: maybe the recovery didn’t go as planned. Maybe the pain came back. Maybe the band needed someone fully ready to go.
But according to a verified insider who worked directly with Burkheiser during his surgery and recovery, that narrative is way off.
Speaking to Blunt Mag under anonymity, the source – who is associated with the Osborne Head and Neck Institute in Los Angeles – confirmed that Burkheiser made a full recovery from his condition thanks to Dr Ryan Osborne and his team. The source says they remained in regular contact with him after his return to the stage with I Prevail.
“Rest assured that is not the case,” they wrote. “Eagle Syndrome is a silent disease and often misunderstood. Once he had those two ligaments removed from both sides of his neck, he no longer had the pain he was suffering with.”
They continued: “I want to change the narrative and let people know that Brian’s health is good.”
According to the source, Burkheiser has “become an advocate” for those with Eagle Syndrome. “I would hate for rumours to spread about him quitting or [I Prevail] parting ways with him because of the disease.”
Burkheiser was featured in part of the Institute’s OHNI Case Files documentary series, which followed his pre-op, surgery and post-op recovery – including his return to the stage at Fiddler’s Green. The video shows a vocalist who not only fought back, but came out stronger thanks to life-changing procedures.
Last May, the former I Prevail vocalist shared news about his experience with Eagle Syndrome (alongside confirming he would be missing a run of shows to allow for recovery time) to Instagram. “If I’m being honest, this disease has broken me over the last few years. I knew something was wrong dating all the way back to 2018, and it wasn’t until recently that I officially figured out the problem,” the post reads. “I’ve pushed myself through multiple tour cycles trying my best to keep a positive spirit, but as the days passed by, the negativity and pain grew. I could write a book with the list of symptoms that come with this disease.”
At the time, he thanked Dr Osborne and his team at the clinic “for empowering me and showing me that I can get back the life I’ve always wanted.”
Eagle Syndrome is described by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners as “a complex condition caused by an elongated styloid process” (a small, pointy bone located beneath the ear) or “calcified stylohyoid ligament, which is associated with a wide variety of symptoms, including recurrent episodes of throat pain…neck pain and reduced neck mobility.” The Osborne Head & Neck Institute estimates that an elongated styloid is found in approximately 4% of the population, with only a small percentage of those experiencing symptoms.
So, if Burkheiser’s departure from I Prevail wasn’t health-related, the real reason remains behind closed doors. While we may see a statement from him at some stage, for now only the band and Brian know the real reason.
What is clear now is this: Brian Burkheiser didn’t walk away from I Prevail because of illness. He beat that. And while fans may never get the full story, they can at least put one rumour to rest.
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