Jon Brookes,
the drummer with indie band The Charlatans has died aged 44.
He had suffered a seizure on tour with the band in
2010 and had been receiving treatment for a brain tumour.
Brookes had undergone several operations, but had
still been working on new material with the band over the summer. He died in hospital
on Tuesday morning with his family at his bedside.
Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess tweeted
that the band was "torn apart" at the news and sent love to Brookes's
family.
"Jon Brookes, my friend, our drummer and
inspiration to so many, passed away this morning. We are torn apart. Love &
thoughts to Jon's family," he said.
He also thanked "everyone for their messages and
memories of Jon. So much love on such a sad day".
A further statement from the band read:
"Jon was a brilliant drummer, an inspiration, a founding member of The
Charlatans, part of our family and a friend to everyone in and around the band.
"Losing someone who was always so full of life
is a tragedy that will be shared by so many. Our thoughts are with Debbie and
all of Jon's family."
Collapsed
on stage
Brookes was diagnosed with a brain tumour after
collapsing during a Charlatans gig in Philadelphia, in the United States in 2010.
He briefly
stopped breathing and was helped by a doctor attending the show, before being
taken to hospital for emergency treatment.
The rest of
their US tour was cancelled as Brookes was flown to the UK for treatment.
Speaking
afterwards he described how he "saw lights" in the corner of his eyes
before collapsing at the concert and said he was at the "start of the long
road of treatment for cancer" but was "feeling fit and
positive".
In July this
year the band revealed that he had undergone further surgery for the brain
tumour.
They said he
had recovered well from the operation but would remain in hospital for
additional treatment.
Brookes, of
Burntwood, Staffordshire, was a founding member of the band that formed in the
West Midlands in 1989.
Another
original band member, keyboardist Rob Collins, died in a car accident in 1996.
The Charlatans
have had 22 UK top 40 hits, including The Only One I Know, Can't Get Out Of Bed
and One To Another.
Source: BBC
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