Widespread Panic, a rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1986, has revealed that its lead guitarist, Jimmy Herring, has been diagnosed with Stage 1 tonsil cancer, a type of throat cancer.
“That part we’re happy to report,” the band added before announcing the cancellation of three concerts at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, originally scheduled for July 25–27.
“We will have a clearer picture of our future concert schedule in the next few days,” the group wrote. “We thank everyone for their concern and Blessings as Jimmy and his Family go through this healing process. Let the Healing begin.”
Well Wishes Pour In
Similar to other types of cancer, tonsil cancer ranges in stages from zero to 4, with the higher numbers indicating that the tumor is larger and may have spread to other parts of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In Stage 1, the tumor is smaller and confined to the tonsil, meaning it likely hasn’t spread to other areas, such as the lymph nodes.
Upon hearing of Mr. Herring’s cancer diagnosis, many prominent members of the music industry—including musician Eric Krasno, rapper G. Love, guitarist Billy Strings, and turntablist DJ Logic—commented on the band’s social media post, expressing their wishes for the North Carolina native’s speedy recovery.
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Isbell called the guitarist “a beautiful soul,” writing that he was “as good a musician” as he'd ever seen. “Love and healing to Jimmy,” Mr. Isbell shared.
“We are praying for jimmy !!!! One of the best guitarists ever!!” commented pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph.
Jimmy Herring
Before embarking on his nearly four-decade career, Mr. Herring developed his guitar skills at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, according to his website. He also studied at Hollywood’s Musicians Institute, formerly known as the Guitar Institute of Technology.The guitarist co-founded his first band—the jazz fusion group Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit—in 1988, before going on to join the supergroup Frogwings in 1997. Mr. Herring has also worked with many other groups over the years, including Jazz is Dead, The Other Ones, and Project Z.
In 2006, Mr. Herring joined Widespread Panic, the current lineup of which includes lead singer and guitarist John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, keyboardist John Hermann, percussionist Domingo Ortiz, and drummer Duane Trucks.
Mr. Herring replaced the band’s stand-in guitarist George McConnell, who played with the group for four years following the 2002 death of Widespread Panic’s founding guitarist Michael Houser, who died at the age of 40 from pancreatic cancer.
Throughout his career, Mr. Herring has also embarked on various solo projects, including releasing his first solo record, “Lifeboat,” in 2008.
“The highly melodic album boasts a personal side of Jimmy, unseen in his previous projects,” his biography reads. “With Lifeboat, Herring explored several strains of the jazz and fusion genre, from harmonically demanding post-bop to more high-powered environs.”
The guitarist went on to release a second solo record, “Subject to Change Without Notice,” in 2012, founding his own band, Jimmy Herring & The Invisible Whip, five years later.
“They’re just my friends, you know? It’s a little different playing with your heroes than playing with your friends. These guys, they make it known to me that man, play what you want to play and no one tells anyone what to do,” he explained.
“That’s refreshing; it’s playing with Panic that gave me the confidence to do my own album finally. The guys in the band most of them have done solo projects from time to time and they were all encouraging me to just do it. That’s where a lot of my tunes came from—in a hotel room, with a guitar in my hand, working it between shows. It’s a great place to be.”
