Fish Cancels Live Plans To Undergo Surgery

(Prog) Fish has cancelled his touring plans for most of next year after being told to prepare for shoulder surgery that'll leave him unable to perform until at least October 2017.

He's been diagnosed with a torn tendon that's in danger of detaching from its position, threatening his ability to use his right arm. He'll undergo treatment next year - soon after recovering from previously-scheduled spinal surgery.

And it means his aim of retiring in 2018 has had to be abandoned. Fish says via Facebook: "The operation is a small keyhole procedure - but the aftermath is truly a nightmare.

"I will have to have my right arm completely immobilised in a sling for four weeks, I can't drive for six weeks and then I'll have six months with intense physio to fully recover.

"It's going to be long and painful, and if I don't strictly follow the rules the tendon will tear again and may be irreparable. At the moment I'm suffering extreme pain from certain movements and I have been dealing with this for a few years, although not in continual intensity. Recently it's become agonisingly intrusive."

He believes the injury was sustained during a diving expedition off Cuba in 2010, then aggravated aboard a tour bus last year. He continues: "What this means is that there will be no festival shows next year, and I will not be able to go on the road until October 2017 without risking further damage. This is a huge blow on a number of levels." Read more here.