The invisible illness that nearly silenced an emerging blues rock talent

For most guitarists, the road is tough. For Laurence Jones, it has been a battle on two fronts. Long before he became one of Britain’s leading young blues rock artists, he was grappling with a pain he could not name. What began as severe stomach issues as a teenager turned into a life-altering diagnosis years later, one that would test his resilience, reshape his career, and ultimately inspire the most personal album he has ever made.

“I’d been dealing with severe stomach pain since I was 14,” Jones says. “After years of uncertainty, I finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed. From that moment, my life changed completely.” The news forced him to rethink everything. He knew little about Crohn’s disease, yet he quickly realized he had to understand it, accept it, and prepare for the massive adjustments ahead.

Those adjustments became unavoidable in the lead-up to his new album On My Own, written during what Jones calls the most difficult year of his life. The physical toll was immense. “Crohn’s comes with chronic fatigue, and I was passing blood, which left me anemic. My vitamin levels were low, I’d lost three stone, and I felt like a shadow of myself,” he recalls. At a time when performing felt impossible and his health was spiraling, music became the one thing he could still grasp. “Music was my refuge. It became my comfort, like slipping into a warm, familiar pair of slippers.”

That comfort helped guide the direction of On My Own, a record shaped as much by circumstance as by intention. Touring had always been central to Jones’s life, but the grind began to chip away at him. The travel, the stress, the late nights, and the irregular routines he once shrugged off were suddenly dangerous to his health. A doctor finally told him he had no choice but to slow down.

Emotionally, he struggled. Creatively, he pivoted. “At first, adapting felt scary,” Jones says. “But moving from full band performances to playing solo with just my guitar ended up feeling like coming home.” Rather than seeing the adjustment as a limitation, he treated it as a return to the roots of everything he loved about playing. He went back to the feel of classical guitar, the simplicity of wood and string with no pedals or effects to hide behind. Stripping the sound down opened new emotional territory and helped him reclaim a sense of control.

Crohn’s also introduced challenges most fans never see. Backstage spaces without proper facilities, the physical pain that fluctuates without warning, and the constant feeling of being misunderstood weighed on him heavily. “Crohn’s is an invisible disease, and that makes it hard to get the support you need,” he says. As an ambassador for Crohn’s & Colitis UK, Jones has been determined to change that. “People see you and assume you’re fine, when you’re really not.”

The album’s title track became a turning point. Writing it felt instinctual and cathartic, a moment where creativity and survival fused. “That song really marked a rebirth for my solo career. It gave me hope,” he says. He experimented with open tunings and leaned into the blues influences that shaped him as a young player. “I drew a lot of influence from the records I love, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Robert Johnson. They still guide my playing today.”

Even as his body demanded rest, Jones refused to give up on his career. He launched his own label, managed his schedule, and booked his own tour, all while learning how to set boundaries for his health. “I won’t lie, it’s been difficult. But the reality is, bills need to be paid, and life goes on,” he says. “It is about finding the right balance between working hard without overexerting myself.” His fiancé, Amy, and a supportive team have helped lighten the load, but the discipline ultimately comes from within. He hopes fans will understand the challenges of living with a disability and show compassion when he needs it.

Looking back, Jones says Crohn’s has changed everything. It has reshaped how he performs, how he writes, and how he lives, yet it has never chipped away at his love of music. “Living with Crohn’s has taught me resilience and adaptability,” he reflects. “This new album and way of performing feels like the right path for me, allowing me to continue doing what I love while taking care of myself.”

On My Own, which is set to release on January 23rd, 2026, is more than a record; it is a testament to perseverance, honesty, and the power of reinvention. Jones hopes that listeners, especially those battling chronic conditions, will hear that message clearly. “I hope they can see that an illness like this doesn’t have to hold you back,” he says. “You can keep doing what you love, despite the challenges.”

With a renewed sense of purpose and a body of work that reflects the hardest chapter of his life, Laurence Jones is ready for the road ahead. “This chapter brings me happiness and fulfillment,” he says. “I can’t wait to get back out on the road and see what 2026 brings.”