And I suppose when you're diagnosed with a chronic disorder such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, one of the first things they probably tell you is to maintain your overall health, which would definitely include quitting smoking, or smoking regularly. Don't know when he was diagnosed, but I would bet dollars to donuts that seriously curtailed any remaining smoking habit. (Though the pot he smoked back in the day might help some days with nagging joint pain!)

Do admire him from quitting in '77, though. It was a time of high stress, I'm sure, when other band members and roadies, etc. were probably smoking up a storm, so good for him for stopping...even though I'm sure his other habits at the time were much worse than tobacco!