The band will continue to tour and record at Daniel’s request
Bass player for Republic Records’ dynamic pop-rock group The Scarlet Opera, Daniel Zuker, has revealed to fans that he has been diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal adenocarcinoma cancer.
In a message to fans posted on the band’s Instagram page, Zuker said he received the news about two months ago. “Once you get diagnosed, it’s no longer really your diagnosis, it’s the diagnosis of everyone around you. And it affects everyone around you heavily,” he said in the video.
The rest of the boys in the band – lead singer Luka Bazulka, keyboardist Colin Kenrick, guitarist Chance Taylor, and drummer Justin Siegal – shared a joint message thanking Zuker for his strength, and describing just how much they love and appreciate him.
“The past two months have been illuminating of just exactly how much we love and lean on one another – how much Danny brings to the table, both with his incredible and undeniable talent, as well as his wit and charm,” the statement read.
The band continued by acknowledging Zuker for having the courage and vulnerability to share his journey with everyone, ending by saying, “We love you Danny boy.”
As for his reasons for being forthright about his diagnosis, the insanely talented bass-shredder said, “I don’t believe in hiding what’s going on in my life, and to not be ashamed of what [my] situation might be. I’m a fighter.”
The band posted the message on Friday, February 7th. Since that time, friends and fans have shared an outpouring of love and support for him in the comments on Instagram. Among them, many of The Scarlet Opera’s celebrity fans including Mandy Patinkin and Jeremy Renner.
In their joint statement, TSO said that, “At his request, the show will go on.” And it has, with Zuker still on bass at a recent Valentine’s Day show in LA at The Three Clubs. It was the band’s first show of the year. “My commitment to my recovery and living a full life is unstoppable and I promise you I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
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