Madness legend Chris Foreman has shared a deeply personal health update, revealing he’s battling an incurable form of cancer. The guitarist, who’s been with the band for 45 years, has received an outpouring of love from fans globally. What does this mean for one of the 80s’ most iconic musicians?
Iconic Madness guitarist Chris Foreman has revealed a profoundly personal health struggle, announcing his diagnosis with incurable myeloma, a form of cancer. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the music world and prompted an immense outpouring of support from his devoted fanbase.
Foreman’s health battle began earlier this year with severe and increasingly unbearable pain in his upper back and shoulders. Following a performance in France, the pain intensified, necessitating an MRI scan which ultimately uncovered a tumour on his spine.
Subsequent medical evaluations confirmed the diagnosis of myeloma, a condition described by Foreman as treatable but not curable. Despite the challenging prognosis, the 69-year-old musician has expressed a determined spirit, vowing to fight for remission and regain a semblance of normal life.
His initial treatment included targeted radiotherapy to address the spinal tumour and alleviate the intense pain. Foreman also bravely endured a “Spinal Tap” procedure, a detail he wryly shared. Although his kidney function was severely compromised at 14% at one point, he reported significant improvement since then.
Chris Foreman has been an integral part of Madness for an astonishing 45 years, co-founding the band and shaping their distinctive sound. His enduring presence has cemented him as a beloved figure in the realm of 80s music legends.
Madness, celebrated for their unique blend of ska and pop, achieved massive global success, selling over 28 million albums. They were the biggest-selling singles band in the UK during the 1980s, accumulating 15 top ten hits and spending 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart.
In the wake of his announcement, fans across the globe have flooded social media with messages of solidarity and encouragement. Many shared their own experiences with cancer, particularly myeloma, offering practical advice and emotional strength to the legendary guitarist.
The collective response underscores the deep connection between the band and their audience. Fans highlight the availability of brilliant support networks for myeloma sufferers, emphasizing that medical advances are continuously making the illness less devastating and advocating for managing symptoms as key to wellbeing.
