Rage Against the Machines Tim Commerford is battling prostate cancer.
In an interview with Spin Magazine, the 54-year-old bassist revealed he's been battling the illness privately since before the band went on tour this summer.
He explains, "Right before I was about to go on tour with Rage, I had my prostate removed, and I have prostate cancer."
He explains, "My doctors said I wasn't going to be ready ( for touring). That was brutal. I would be on stage looking at my amp in tears. Then you just kind of turn around and suck it up."
The tour was cut short when lead singer Zack de la Rocha tore his Achilles tendon. They were able to resume touring for a while after de la Rocha's injury, but eventually had to call it quits.
Commerford says he decided to go public with his condition after watching the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony.
"Duran Duran was on, and I wondered, 'where's Andy Taylor, and why do they have this other guy in here?!' Then it was like, 'Andy Taylor is suffering from stage four prostate cancer and is unable to make it.'"
"There are a lot of people who have it. There are a lot of people who are like, 'Where do you go?' You can't talk to a therapist. You can only really talk to someone who's going through it."
At the time of his diagnosis, the only people aware of his condition were his family, bandmates and close friends. During his 6-month test, he says his cancer levels were at zero, but has to continue regular testing.
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