UB40’s saxophone player Brian Travers has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and will miss the band’s 40th anniversary tour. Last week he was taken to the hospital after suffering a seizure at his home. The subsequent brain scans revealed he had developed two tumors. Travers is now awaiting brain surgery and has been advised by his doctors that his recovery will take up to six months. He released a statement:
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. 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 premiere of our new album For the Many. 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.
The band confirmed that the tour will still go ahead without Brian:
We are deeply saddened that Brian, our lifelong friend and founding member of UB40, is unable to join us for our celebratory UK tour. We know he will be missed by all but his health and wellbeing 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.
Their latest album For the Many was released on 15 March and the tour begins on Friday 29 March in Portsmouth U.K.
