TV on the Radio bass/keys man Gerard Smith diagnosed with lung cancer

TV on the Radio bass/keys man Gerard Smith diagnosed with lung cancer

In a recent post on their website, Brooklyn art-funk mainstays TV on the Radio announced that bassist and keyboardist Gerard Smith was diagnosed with lung cancer following the completion of their upcoming album Nine Types of Light. Smith has been a member since 2005, contributing to 2006’s primal, wrenching, holy-shit-fuck, TMT-approved masterstroke Return to Cookie Mountain, as well as 2008’s slightly more funky-with-the-Cheez Whiz Dear Science.

“As a result [of the diagnosis, Gerard] has been undergoing treatment and will be unable to participate in the upcoming tour,” the band’s statement reads. Light is still due out on April 12 via Interscope (check out the new track “Caffeinated Consciousness” over at the Chocolate Grinder), and the band will still be hitting SXSW (which I believe is some sort of airport somewhere?) this week in preparation for a fairly large-scale tour of North America and Europe. “Gerard is fortunate enough to have health insurance and is receiving excellent medical care. Already we have seen dramatic results. Combine that with Gerard’s legendarily willful disposition and it might just be cancer that has the problem. We appreciate your concern and support for Gerard and his family.” Hang tough, Gerard!

TV on the Radio dates:

03.17-19.11 - Austin, TX - SXSW
04.08.11 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
04.09.11 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theatre
04.10.11 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
04.13.11 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
04.15.11 - Providence, RI - Brown University
04.16.11 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
04.17.11 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
04.18.11 - Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
04.20.11 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrew’s Hall
04.22.11 - Chicago, IL - Metro
04.23-24.11 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
04.26.11 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
05.02.11 - San Diego, CA - 4th and B
06.22.11 - Zagreb, Croatia - T-Mobile Inmusic Festival
06.23.11 - Munich, Germany - Muffathalle
06.24.11 - Berlin, Germany - Astra
06.30.11 - Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter
07.01.11 - St. Gallen, Switzerland - St. Gallen Festival
07.03.11 - London, UK - Wireless Festival
07.04.11 - Amsterdam, Holland - Paradiso
07.05.11 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
07.08.11 - Bilbao, Spain - BBK Live Festival
07.09.11 - Lisbon, Portugal - Alive Festival
07.17.11 - Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival

• TV on the Radio: http://www.tvontheradio.com
• Interscope: http://www.interscope.com

[Photo: Pooneh Ghana]

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