Larry Marano/Getty Images“Get well soon” wishes go out to longtime Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali. The 67-year-old rocker revealed in a message posted Monday on podcaster Mitch Lafon‘s Facebook page that he was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer in April, which is why he’s missed a number of concerts this year.
“The original prognosis was very scary. I had quite a battle on my hands and it took a lot, but I am thankful to say that, after several rounds of chemo and other treatments, I am on the mend,” Banali writes.
“The road ahead is not going to be easy but cancer has met its match and I plan to continue fighting,” he adds. “I wish I could have been with you all at every Quiet Riot performance as this is the first time in 38 years I have ever missed a gig.”
Frankie adds that he’s “feeling much better and stronger now,” and insists he plans to perform at the band’s concert Saturday at The Whiskey a Go Go in West Hollywood, California, “and to continue touring in 2020 with Quiet Riot.”
He concludes, “I appreciate all the fans that support Quiet Riot by coming to shows and I hope you will all continue that support, as well as keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.”
The news of Banali’s illness comes as Quiet Riot prepares to release a new studio album titled Hollywood Cowboys on November 8.
The record, a follow-up to 2017’s Road Rage, features Banali, longtime bassist Chuck Wright and guitarist Alex Grossi — who joined the group in 2004 — as well as one-time American Idol contestant James Durbin on lead vocals. While Durbin lent his talents to the album, Jizzy Pearl will front Quiet Riot when the band tours.
Copyright © 2019, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.