After undergoing treatment for a brain tumour following his collapse on stage in Philadelphia earlier this month, The Charlatans’ drummer Jon Brookes is aiming to return to the band in time for their tour of Australia, according to frontman Tim Burgess.
In an interview with BBC’s Newsbeat, Burgess revealed his bandmate has been responding well to treatment and could be back sooner than most had expected. “At this moment in time things are looking on the up,” he said. “Jon’s resting and he’s with his family. He wants to go to Australia, which is in six weeks’ time. I think that’s the most realistic way to look at everything.”
The Charlatans have drafted in former Verve drummer Pete Salisbury in the meantime, someone who Burgess claims was Brookes’ first choice as his replacement. “Jon insisted we call Pete from the Verve,” he disclosed. “He said this from his hospital bed in Philadelphia when he had the full members of the band sitting around him eating grapes.”
The Charlatans played their first gig with Salisbury on board on Monday at an Oxjam benefit show in London, and will begin their UK tour proper in Newcastle on October 5th.