Madness' CB Foreman reveals rare cancer diagnosis
The musician said "I'll be back"
Last updated 29th Aug 2025
Madness guitarist CB (Chris) Foreman has revealed he's received a rare cancer diagnosis, after experiencing severe pain in his upper back and shoulders during a concert in June.
The musician shared the news on the band's social media earlier today (Friday 29th August), saying: '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.'
It comes after the band performed a series of shows, including a performance in France on 28th June. In the post, he wrote:
'A message to you from me - CB. Dear all, 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% 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. 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.
'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)
Fans were quick to take to the comments to wish the guitarist a 'speedy recovery'. Meanwhile CB's son, Felix Foreman, wrote: 'Love you dad, you’ll be back up and running in no time ❤️'.
Madness have an arena tour lined up for December 2025, visiting venues across the UK from the 4th-20th December, as part of their 'Hits Parade Tour'.
Now check out all the tours coming to the UK this year and beyond:
Stevie Wonder
'Superstition' singer Stevie Wonder is on his 'Songs In The Key of Life Performances - 50th Anniversary Tour', including four UK dates starting in October 2026 and continuing into November. He will be playing at Birmingham, London, Manchester and Glasgow.
The Stylistics
'Betcha by Golly, Wow' singers, The Stylistics, have started a huge tour in October and November. They are playing 22 dates across the UK.
Paul Heaton
Paul Heaton has announced he will be going on tour later this year, in October and November. The former Housemartins and Beautiful South singer also announced a new album called 'Jenius', and the lead single 'Favourite Kind Of Idiot'. He will also be playing several gigs over summer 2027.
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley is now on 'The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026', taking place in November and December 2026. Announcing news of his new tour, Tony told his fans: 'Following the huge success of last year's sold-out tour, The Fabulous TH Band and I are heading back out on the road this November and December for the Christmas Big Band Tour!'
He performs songs by legendary artists including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Elvis Presley, along with big band versions of Spandau Ballet's 'True', 'Gold', and 'Through The Barricades'.
Del Amitri
The tour, called 'Past to Present - Four Decades of Their Greatest Music', will open at Leeds O2 Academy on Monday 9th November, and wrap up with two homecoming shows at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom on Sunday 6th and Tuesday 8th December. They will also be supporting Texas on tour in 2027.
Culture Club
In May 2026, Culture Club announced they would be heading out on 'The Singles Tour' with very special guests ABC and Haircut 100. The band start their tour in Bournemouth on Monday 7th December, continuing throughout the month, ending at The O2 Arena on Saturday 19th December 2026.
Jack Whitehall
Jack Whitehall hosted the BRIT Awards in February 2026, and will be going on his 'Bad Influence' tour in January and February 2027 across the UK. The tour will start in Newcastle on 7th January 2027, and will see the comedian perform across the UK, finally ending a month later in Derby.
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde has announced a 13-date UK tour in March 2027. She will be joined by 'I Think We're Alone Now' singer Tiffany. Kim will start her tour in Bristol on 12th March, before travelling across the country and finishing her tour in York on 28th March 2027.
Gabrielle
Gabrielle will be going on a headline tour in March and April 2027, performing at locations such as Portsmouth, Glasgow, Bradford, Newcastle, Bath, London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and many more. This new tour will mark an exciting new chapter for the singer, who rose to fame following the success of her debut single 'Dreams' in 1993 and her landmark 1999 album 'Rise'.
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their debut album 'Popped In Souled Out' with a 40-date UK tour in 2027. The run is split across February and October, beginning on 7th February in Watford and wrapping up on 29th October in Portsmouth, with one October date still to be announced.
Across the shows, they'll perform songs from the milestone album alongside a set packed with career favourites, including hits that helped define their pop success. Select dates will also feature special guests including Roachford, Nick Heyward, Rebecca Ferguson, Heather Small, Johnny Hates Jazz, The Christians and The South.
Francis Rossi
Status Quo legend Francis Rossi has extended his 'Songbook: Quo – Past, Present, Future' UK tour into 2027. He has announced dates throughout March, April and May 2027.
Simple Minds
Simple Minds have announced a May 2027 UK arena tour with very special guest Gary Numan. The band's 'V Tour' 2027 is billed as a 'panoramic live music experience' and 'an all-encompassing celebration of music across five decades.'
Chris De Burgh
Chris De Burgh has announced a new tour for 2027. The 'Lady In Red' singer will be starting his eight-date tour in Bath Forum, on 6th May, before he visits Bournemouth, London (for two dates), Leicester, Basingstoke, and Harrogate before ending his tour on 17th May in Liverpool.
John Bishop
Comedian John Bishop is set to go on tour in 2027, and the tickets are still available to buy now. John will start his 2027 UK and Ireland tour in April in Leeds, continuing across the country including gigs in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and more. Finally he will end his tour in Ireland on 16th May 2027.
Don Mclean
'American Pie' singer Don Mclean has announced he will be doing one last tour across the UK. 'The Farewell Tour' will take place in May 2027, starting in Glasgow on Tuesday 11th May, before moving onto Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and more, finishing in London.
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart has announced a four-date tour for April and May 2027. The 'Maggie May' singer will be starting his UK tour in Glasgow on Thursday 29th April, before moving onto Birmingham, Manchester and London – finishing at The O2 on Tuesday 11th May.
Erasure
Erasure have announced a huge tour for 2027. The 'Radio!! Radio!! Tour' will be starting in Cardiff on Sunday 25th April, and continuing for three weeks, ending in The O2 arena in London on Wednesday 12th May.
U2
U2 have announced the European leg of The Greatest Show on Earth World Tour, including two massive UK stadium shows. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. play London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th June 2027, as part of a wider European tour.
Rewind-On-Sea at Dreamland Margate
Rewind-On-Sea, taking place in June, at Dreamland Margate next year, has a huge line-up including Marc Almond, Nik Kershaw, Heather Small, Roland Gift, Chesney Hawkes and Altered Images.
Shania Twain
Country music Queen Shania Twain is heading back to the UK in 2027, announcing her 'The Places I Go Tour'. The 'That Don't Impress Me Much' singer will play dates in Scarborough, Glasgow, Chelmsford, Cardiff and Oxfordshire in June 2027, playing some of her biggest hits to her beloved fans.
Texas
Texas have announced they will be going on a UK tour in October 2027, starting in Aberdeen on Friday 15th October, continuing across Scotland, England and Wales, ending in Birmingham on Saturday 30th October.
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