Madness star diagnosed with incurable cancer
Chris Foreman has missed Madness' concerts this year after being diagnosed with cancer.
Madness star Chris Foreman has incurable cancer.
The 69-year-old guitarist for the legendary Ska band has been diagnosed with myeloma - a type of blood cancer that affects the bones and different parts of the body.
Although there is no cure, it is "treatable", and Foreman is determined to fight his way to remission and get back to "normal life".
The musician - whose treatments so far have included radiotherapy and spinal tap surgery - is hopeful he can be fit enough to get back on stage in 2026, after being forced to step back from the It Must Be Love hitmakers' concerts this year.
In a note to fans on Madness' official Facebook page on Friday (29.08.25), he said: "Earlier this year I had severe pain in my upper back and shoulders. On the 28th of June we played a show in France and it had become unbearable. I had an MRI scan at the end of June and they found a tumour on my spine. On the 4th of July I went to the Royal Sussex and had all sorts of stuff done to me. I had radiotherapy which blasted it and stopped the pain. I actually had a Spinal Tap too - rock n roll! I wasn't in good shape, to say the least. My kidneys were only at 14 per cent function, which has greatly improved since then. What I've got is a form of cancer called myeloma. It's treatable but not curable. When I get it into remission (I will!) I should be able to get back to normal life."
He continued: "Some people have had this for 20 years or more. I have a long way to go before I get back onstage but I aim to be back next year. The band, my family, my road crew family and my management team have all been very loving and supportive."
The upbeat star quipped that the "worst" part has been abstaining from alcohol.
He went on: "One of the worst side effects is that I can't drink alcohol but I've mastered a non alcoholic Margarita and those Zero alcohol beers ain't too bad these days. It's been really hard not being onstage with the band this year. They've worked really hard and the shows looked great. I don't know how they did it without me, to be fair. I won't be able to do Butlins or the tour this year, which is a great shame but ……"I'LL BE BACK!" CB Foreman - Peacehaven, 29th August 2025 (sic)"
