Pogues guitarist Phil Chevron is battling cancer for the second time – and he’s admitted it will be “lethal” in this case.
He was sidelined from the Pogues and his pioneering punk band, The Radiators From Space, in 2007 after being diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck. In 2011 he was given the all-clear.
But now doctors have confirmed it’s returned after finding another tumour last year – and surgery is impossible due to the associated risks.
A statement says: “In August 2012, Philip and his doctors noticed a new tumour in a position whereby treatment is seriously ill-advised, and would almost certainly cause a stroke or worse.
“The cancer is, in short, inoperable, and will prove fatal in time, though it is at present impossible to measure life expectancy.
“Philip thanks his friends, colleagues, family and management team for their enduring support and hopes to make some contributions before, as he puts it, the cancer becomes ‘lethal’.”
Chevron, 55, formed the Radiators in 1976 and remained with them until they split in 1981. He started playing with the Pogues in 1984 and left ten years later, rejoining when the band returned from hiatus in 2001. Shane MacGowan’s outfit are planning to mark their 30th anniversary this year. Meanwhile, the Radiators, who reformed in 2004, have become a new band known as the Trouble Pilgrims in the guitarist’s absence.
His most recent work has been the writing of theatre music, including commissions from London’s Old Vic and Galway’s Druid.
-Classic Rock
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