UB40 saxophone player Brian Travers has announced that he will not be joining the band on their upcoming 40th anniversary tour in order to undergo surgery for a brain tumor.
The band revealed the information in a lengthy Facebook post, explaining that Travers was taken to a hospital last week after suffering a seizure at home, with follow-up brain scans revealing two tumors.
According to the statement, Travers will undergo surgery the day before the band’s tour is slated to kick off and has been advised by doctors that his recovery will take six months. “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, 60, 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 & sculpture. It’s been a huge privilege and I thank you all for the opportunity to ‘live the dream’.”
The tour is slated to kick off on Friday (March 29) at Portsmouth’s Guildhall; the band released their latest album, For the Many, last week. “We’re deeply saddened that Brian, our lifelong friend and founding member of UB40, is unable to join us for our celebratory UK tour,” the band wrote. “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.”
The English reggae pop group was formed in Birmingham in 1978 and is best known for their hit covers of “Red Red Wine,” “I Got You Babe” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
See the full post below.