UB40 Saxophonist Brian Travers Diagnosed With Brain Tumour
UB40 saxophonist Brian Travers announced he’ll be undergoing surgery for a brain tumour and won’t be joining the band on their upcoming 40th anniversary tour.
UB40 saxophonist Brian Travers announced he’ll be undergoing surgery for a brain tumour and won’t be joining the band on their upcoming 40th anniversary tour.
The band shared a statement on social media explaining Travers’ current condition. After suffering from a seizure at home on 19 March, scans revealed that Travers had two brain tumours and is scheduled to undergo surgery the same day the band kicks starts their tour.
“We’re deeply saddened that Brian, our lifelong friend and founding member of UB40, is unable to join us for our celebratory UK tour,” they wrote. “We know he will be missed by all but his health and well-being come first, and we are sure our friends and fans will join us in wishing Brian a full and speedy return to health, and return to us”.
Recovery post-surgery is expected to last six months, but Travers is remaining optimistic and shared some personal sentiments on his latest diagnosis.
“It is with great regret that I shall be unable to join my band mates in UB40 on our 40th anniversary tour, the guys have worked incredibly hard to perfect the songs in preparation for the live premier of our new album For The Many,” Travers wrote.
“They sound great, but I shall be there in spirit, cheering them on from my convalescence and thinking of all the wonderful people out there who have supported us for the last 40 years, who I am now incredibly proud to count as friends. I’ve had a great life with no regrets and have absolutely nothing to add to a bucket list except getting over this and getting back to the thing I love, playing music to anyone who wants to listen and expressing myself through painting and sculpture. It’s been a huge privilege and I thank you all for the opportunity to ‘live the dream’.”
The tour celebrates the pioneering English reggae-pop outfit since their formation in Birmingham in 1978. The tour will kick off on 29 March at Portsmouth’s Guildhall and continues through Europe this summer before starting the North American leg of the tour on 2 August in Detroit, Michigan.
The band also released their new album, For The Many, last week. It’s the first UB40 album in five years and features most of their original line-up with the exception of Ali Campbell, Mickey Virtue and Astro who perform as UB40 Featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey.
Explore our UB40 Artist Page.
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