Turbonegro Guitarist Talks About His Cancer Treatment

05/26/08 6:00pm

Norwegian rockers Turbonegro were forced to cancel European and American performances over the past few months due to guitarist Knut "Euroboy" Schreiner's undisclosed health problems, but he's just posted this statement on the band's website detailing his condition:

"In March I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease, which is a 'lucky' version of lymphoma cancer (90% percent get healed, according to Wikipedia and other and more reliable health information sources). Since then I've been undergoing chemotherapy every 14th day. That has kept me out of business for a while now, not being able to tour, but things have gone a lot better than feared. Last week they found out that my cure has so far been successful and my chances are as good as it gets.

"Receiving the news that I had cancer, but not knowing which type and how bad, was of course a rough one. The situation soon changed to the better once I learned what it really was and I headed into therapy. When staying alive is all you care about, then things really can only go upward. I don’t have that much experience with health institutions (maybe except from the occasional meeting with Dr.Rock while on tour…) but I must say that the way I’ve been taking care of by the people at Radiumhospitalet, has just been fantastic.

"I expected the treatment to be a bit hellish, but it’s actually not that bad. Ironically, I was the first one I knew of to be 'googling for wigs', as we’re singing in 'Hell Toupee.' But fortunately for a rocking cat like meself, I haven’t lost my hair (yet). It also looks like I won’t be allowed into the handicapped area, rolling in on a wheelchair, at this summer’s stadium concerts in Oslo. Seriously, the treatment doesn’t wear me out. I’m basically able to carry on as normal, just staying at home and taking it a little easy."

Schreiner and bassist Happy-Tom have been working on new material for the next Turbonegro album, which will be called Tumours. They just recorded a song called "Destroy All Monsters" with new drummer Tomas Dahl that will be used on the soundtrack for the Age Of Conan online game. Dahl replaced Chris Summers, who was asked to leave the band due to a six-month hiatus because of a damaged foot, "personal priorities and a focus on other projects."

Schreiner, who expects to be "completely cured" in the fall, produced the debut album by Stockholm, Sweden's La Puma before he got ill. The "heavy and glamorous pop rock" record was just released in Scandinavia.