Rage Against the Machine bassist Tim Commerford has shared that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer shortly before the band launched their reunion tour earlier this year.
“Right before I was about to go on tour with Rage, I had my prostate removed, and I have prostate cancer,” Commerford reveals in an interview with Spin.
The 54-year-old says his cancer battle has been emotionally and physically difficult.
“Prostate cancer is a very, very, very tough one because it’s connected to your sexuality,” Commerford says. “It’s hard to disconnect from that and when you’re forced into that situation, it’s a brutal psychological journey. I’ve been trying to find support groups, and it’s hard to find people and hard to talk about it.”
He adds, “The suffering part of it, the physical suffering after the surgery, I’ve never felt pain quite like that.”
Commerford describes his current condition as having to “hold your breath for six months” in between check-ins.
“I just got my six-month test, and it came back at zero,” Commerford shares. “I was like, ‘F*** yeah!’ That’s the best I can feel for the rest of my life.”
“Every day I get closer to that test is like, ‘F*** man, is this going to be the time when the number is going to go up and I’m going to the next thing, whatever that is?'” he continues. “I already went through some pain and s***.”
Despite the diagnosis, Commerford played throughout Rage’s U.S. tour over the summer. The subsequent trip to the United Kingdom and Europe and a planned 2023 North American leg were canceled due to an Achilles tendon injury frontman Zack de la Rocha suffered onstage during the first leg.
Meanwhile, Commerford just launched a new band called 7D7D.
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