David Ragsdale, left, and Ronnie Platt with the band Kansas performs with the band at the Xfinity Arena at the Big E on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN) Staff-Shot
Music is an escape for so many.
A chance to forget about the bad, and just jam out and enjoy life for a bit. But cancer is a cruel disease and sadly even the music world can’t escape that.
So, as we push foward into 2025, there has unfortunately been a wave of popular musicians who have shared that they have been touched by or are currently battling the sinsiter disease.
The following is look at those who have shared their fight, and what we know about their situation:
DOUG ALDRICH
Doug Aldrich, a former guitarist with Whitesnake, Dio and currently The Dead Daisies, recently provided an update on his health after announcing last year that he was battling throat cancer.
Per Blabbermouth, Aldrich said in an interview with Radio Bypass’ Ralph Rasmussen that he had a “very successful” surgery about five months ago.
“Everything’s good,” Aldrich said. “I got done with all the radiation treatments in December, and then it’s just been a quick six weeks or whatever. It’s just flown by. But I’ve been feeling good. Everything’s kind of getting back to normal. I’m starting to go to the gym a little bit and work on my muscles and stuff and getting going again like that. So I’m good. I’ve bene playing a lot. There’s a few little issues that pop up — I get some swelling sometimes. After they do that surgery on you, there’s some restructuring of your nasal cavity and stuff like that in your throat. So there’s a little bit to get used to, but I can’t complain. I’m doing really good. And after what I went through, I’m definitely blessed.”
Aldrich said he had to do radiation treatments five days per week, and that the biggest side effect was fatigue.
“But after a couple of weeks of being done with it, I feel my energy is back,” he said. “I’ve been taking it easy in the gym ‘cause I don’t wanna strain anything. I’ve done that in the past where I was getting ready for a tour and I started to do some heavy weights and I’d pull something, and it’s like I got an issue for six months for it to come back. So I’m taking it pretty easy. But I’m feeling good, and, yeah, overall, I can’t complain at all.”
Blabbermouth reported that Aldrich was asked if he was in the “clear” from cancer.
“I don’t know if I’m in the clear,” he said. “I guess it takes five or seven years before you’re actually clear, but the doctors — the surgery was really good. Everything was positive, and they fried me really good for six weeks, so I’m pretty sure everything else that was left over is gone. But I got some blood work done last week. We’ll see what that says. And then I’ve got a PET scan, and that’s a full body scan again to determine if everything’s good.”
Aldrich said he is planning to join The Dead Daisies on tour next month.
The Dead Daisies first announced Aldrich’s cancer on the band’s Facebook page last September.
“Hi, to all Daisies fans,” the post read. “We have some crappy news we’d like to share… Unfortunately Doug has been diagnosed with a treatable throat cancer and has to undergo surgery this week. Moving forward, Doug will not be available for the next run and subsequently long-time good friend & bandmate from the Whitesnake days, Rob Beach, will be filling in for the upcoming European dates. Please join us in wishing Doug all the best for a speedy recovery.”
Aldrich, 61, has also played with the likes of Lion, Hurricane, House of Lords, Bad Moon Rising and Revolution Saints.
Also, per Ultimate Classic Rock, Aldrich auditioned in 1981, at the age of 18, to replace Ace Frehley in Kiss.
Michael Bolton
Iconic singer Michael Bolton’s recent announcement as he battles brain cancer has fans sending prayers.
The star took to social media recently to let fans know that he will need more time to recover from a recent brain surgery. Because of that, he announced that he was cancelling his scheduled July 5 concert at London’s O2 Arena.
“You all know how much I was looking forward to this show but I am continuing to heal from surgery,” he wrote on his Instagram stories. “Thank you for all your love and positive energy over this past year. I am so grateful to have the most supportive fans in the world.”
Fans showed up to send him prayers and well-wishes on his Instagram posts.
“Love everything you do Michael Bolton,” one fan wrote. “Prayers and wishes for (your) recovery.”
“Michael, your music goes right to the heart and soul and always has,” another wrote. “Thank you for all the years of the amazing music you brought to the world it definitely paid off, and I wish you a complete recovery rooting for you all the way always you are the best of the best. Te amo mucho you will always hold a special place in my heart forever Michael Bolton.”
There were plenty of other comments like that coming in on Bolton’s social media account.
Bolton, who is slated to turn 72 later this month, first announced that he had a brain tumor and had to undergo emergency surgery in January of 2024. He said then that “just before the holidays, it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery.”
“For the next couple of months, I will be devoting my time and energy to my recovery which means I’ll have to take a temporary break from touring,” he wrote then. “It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but have no doubt I am working to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon.”
Bolton went on to say he was “grateful for all the love and support” from his fans.
“Know that I’m keeping your positive messages in my heart, and I’ll give you more updates as soon as I can,” he continued. “Much love always, MB.”
Bolton, who has reportedly sold more than 75 million albums across his long career, remained busy through 2023, dropping two albums, “Spark of Light,” and “Christmas Time.”
VIVIAN CAMPBELL
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell is one tough dude, and we know that because he has been battling cancer for more than a decade.
That’s why it raised some eyebrows when he missed the band’s first show of 2025 due to the disease. Now we know, though, that he was out for a very important reason.
“Thank you for all recent messages and support,” Campbell wrote on social media in January. “As you all may know, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma several years ago. I recently had a bone marrow transplant as part of my treatment plan, and it’s safe to say thus far it’s been a very successful transplant! I just have to keep my head down and my spirits up for the next 100 days of primary recovery.”
LouderSound.com reported that Campbell has been battling Hodgkin lymphoma since 2013.
“I’m still dealing with the lymphoma,” Campbell reportedly told the Lymphoma Voices podcast in 2023. “It’s sort of like — it’s an American expression — Whac-a-Mole. You beat something back and then it pops up somewhere else. But it’s been a pretty consistent battle, but it hasn’t been too difficult for me. I deal with it fine. I’ve been able to live my life.”
Campbell told the podcast that for the bulk of his journey he has been able to treat the cancer with immunotherapy.
“Starting in June of 2015, I started taking a drug called pembrolizumab,” he said. “I remember that at the time my doctors wanted me to do radiation and maybe a combination of radiation and chemo. And I just thought, ‘Well, let’s just try this immunotherapy thing. Lets see if this works’ So I managed to get on the trial. I’m happy to say that it worked well for me.”
It looks like Campbell will be out of action for a while, but a successful bone marrow transplant will hopefully free him from cancer.
JEFFREY HATRIX
Jeffrey Hatrix, the former frontman for the popular metal band Mushroomhead, recently gave an update on his cancer battle just weeks after first making the revelation.
In a post recently shared by his daughter, Mea, on his GoFundMe account, he revealed that he is not using conventional methods to attack the disease.
“Hello everybody, my dad wanted to give another update,” Mea wrote. “He is now 1 week fully into his alternative medicine treatment. Which consists of 9 tinctures and 2 capsules. 3 times a day over the course of 8 weeks, not 6 as his dyslexic brain first told him. This protocol is from Morse Healthcare out of Florida and it goes with a diet of Fruit and Vegetables and daily visits to his steam sauna. We would both like to thank you all more than words could ever say. Love, Mea.”
In a previous update she passed along that her father was grateful for all the support.
“We are blown away by the outpouring of love and support and words could never say how much this means,” she wrote.
She also promised that new music was coming.
Hatrix, better known by his stage name Jeffrey Nothing, had the GoFundMe launched by Mea to help support his treatment in January.
“My dad has recently been diagnosed with cancer just months after losing my mom to the same thing,” she wrote. “Due to this, he may have to stop working during his treatment. Anything means everything. Thank you.”
The fundraiser has a goal of $20,000 and has currently raised just more than $18,000.
Hatrix’s wife, Stacy, reportedly died from cancer in April 2024. She was just 38.
Hatrix’s particular form of cancer was not disclosed in the reports or in the GoFundMe.
Blabbermouth reported that Hatrix also shared the GoFundMe to his social media and wrote, “I really wanted to keep this to myself. I was diagnosed a couple months ago. It will be very hard to continue working with the treatment path I have chosen. Thank you for anything you can do to help. I know everyone is going through a lot.”
Hatrix left Mushroomhead in 2018, and he sued the band’s drummer and producer, Steve “Skinny” Felton last year claiming copyright infringement and also alleging that he had not been paid owed royalties, per Blabbermouth.
David Johansen
David Johansen, the co-founder of the New York Dolls and a punk rock icon, provided fans with a concerning health update recently.
It came via his daughter, Leah Hennessey, who laid out the 75-year-olds stunning health battle in a Sweet Relief page to raise money for his care.
“David has been in intensive treatment for Stage 4 cancer for most of the past decade,” she wrote. “Five years ago at the beginning of the pandemic we discovered that David’s cancer had progressed and he had a brain tumor. There have been complications ever since.”
Hennessey said her father and mother are “generally very private people,” so he never revealed his diagnosis.
“But we feel compelled to share this now, due to the increasingly severe financial burden the family is facing,” she wrote. “To make matters worse, the day after Thanksgiving David fell down the stairs and broke his back in two places.”
She said the Johansen has been bedridden since the surgery, and his “illness has progressed exponentially, and my mother is caring for him around the clock.
“To continue his treatment and give him the best chance of recovery, David and Mara will need full-time assistance,” she continued. “As hilarious and wise as David continues to be, he is physically debilitated, and his care exceeds what we are capable of providing without specialized help.”
She noted that due to his health, Johansen has not been able to work for the past five years, and said their “most immediate needs are full-time nursing, physical therapy and funding for day-to-day vital living expenses.
“With professional specialized care, we are hopeful that David can regain some mobility and independence,” she continued.
You can see the full post here.
Billboard.com said that Johansen “has long been a beloved figure on the New York scene, beginning with his time as the lead singer and provocateur of the gender-bending New York Dolls.” It noted that he also hosted a show on SiriusXM and also had several acting credits to his name.
Ben Kenney
Ben Kenney, the former bassist for the popular rock group Incubus, is one tough dude.
And we know that because the 47-year-old recently made his return to the stage three years after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Kenny had surgery to remove the tumor, but Guitar World reported that he was faced with multiple complications.
The site reported that Kenney was rendered permanently deaf in one ear and also has partial facial paralysis. And, Guitar World said, Kenney was also hit by the death of his father as he tried to recover.
He was replaced in Incubus by Nicole Row.
He revealed in an Instagram post what brought him back to the stage.
“Last year, some friends helped me get back on my feet,” he wrote. “I hadn’t been on stage in a few years and I was scared about performing after losing my hearing. I had gone to see Micky Dolenz play a bunch of times and each time his bassist (John Billings) would say to me ‘You gotta come play with us.’ I finally got up the nerve and said yes.”
Kenney said their first jam session featured the song “Come Together” by The Beatles.
“Just a few days later, I was onstage with Micky and his band playing live for the first time in years,” he wrote. “I still can’t believe it. I’m so grateful to Micky, John and the whole band for giving me a huge win when I needed one.”
Fans responded with love.
“Wow!” one person wrote. “How inspiring! Your hearing? You’re so gifted. This is so amazing. Glad to see you back and operating in your gift!”
“You are one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever seen,” another wrote. “Instrumentally, vocally, your approach, your taste, your style, your dynamics. You belong on stage! Huge win!”
There were plenty more comments like them and you can see them and Kenney’s post here.
Guitar World reported that Kenney is also making new music and recently released a new single, “Fire.”
LOU KOLLER
Lou Koller, the frontman for the popular punk rock group Sick of It All, took to social media this past week with a major update in his battle against cancer.
“Last day of chemo,” Koller said smiling on a video he shared to the band’s Instagram page. “Last day of chemo. Thanks for all of your support. I’m doing pretty good. Going to deal with this stuff, be sick for a about a week and a half and then start the healing.
“Just got to get my voice and body back in shape,” he added. “Thanks everybody see ya.’
He also wrote a bit next to the video, noting that his fingers and feet are numb and he didn’t know when that would go away.
“It’s different for everyone,” he added. “Same for the tastebuds. Don’t know when I’ll be able to taste food normally again. Right now I kind of taste what I’m eating but it’s over powered by a chemical/metallic taste. But it will be just a memory soon.”
Koller announced last June that he had cancer.
“What’s up everybody?” Koller said in a video posted to the band’s Instagram page back then. “Lou here. As you may or may not know, we had to cancel our full European tour this summer. There’s some rumors going around as to why, and we are here to set the record straight, but we wanted to wait until we got all the information before making an announcement.”
That is when he got right to what he is dealing with.
“The reason that it is cancelled is because they found a tumor in my esophagus that goes into my stomach, and I’ll have to be getting treatment all summer,” he said. “Of course, I had full support of the band. As soon as they heard it, they were like forget the tour. Just get healthy.”
RAUL MALO
Country music star Raul Malo is back performing after recently taking some time off to recover from a surgery to remove a tumor from his liver back in December.
Malo, 59, announced his cancer diagnosis in late June in an Instagram video.
“In the last couple of years, we out here on the road, we have been on a health kick,” he said. “Treating ourselves a little better. Taking care out ourselves a little better, and really trying to do all the right things as far as nutrition, etc. So, part of the health journey is to get yourself checked out. Go to a doctor, take a physical and start there.”
Malo said that is what he did.
“And that led to another appointment with a gastrointestinal specialist, which led to a CAT scan,” he said. “And that proved to show two cancerous spots.”
RONNIE PLATT
Ronnie Platt, the frontman for legendary rock band Kansas, shared an important update this week in his battle against cancer.
Platt returned to social media on Thursday to let fans know how the meeting with his oncologist went.
“I met with my doctor today and found out I have surgery scheduled for March 4,” he wrote on Instagram. “So far, the prognosis has been very good. I’m looking forward to getting this behind me and being back in the saddle as soon as possible. I appreciate the outpouring of support I’ve been receiving.
“Thank you.”
The 64-year-old first announced his diagnosis earlier this month.
“For all of you asking,” Tuesday (Feb. 11) I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but before everyone gets all excited, it has a 99% survival rate, it has not spread,” he reportedly wrote. “It’s contained to my thyroid. I just have to have my thyroid removed. Go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle.”
That’s about as good of news you can get with cancer. Still, Platt joins a growing list of musicians currently battling the diseases.
Platt asked fans for “positive thoughts and prayers.”
“As it has been put to me, this is just a bump in the road and will be behind me very soon!” he wrote. “So everyone please CARRY ON!”
Platt replaced Steve Walsh in 2014 as the lead singer for Kansas.
The band celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.
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Music world rocked as 9 popular musicians share cancer news – PennLive.com
