Drummerobit: Jon Brookes

Horrible news yesterday, with the death of Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes.

As a key member of a major Madchester band and a West Brom fan, Brookes was Baggie twice over.

There's a lovely 1999 interview with Brookes and James Hannah, in which Jon looks back over the Charlatan's career up until Us & Us Only. There's some consideration of the previous tragedy that hit the band - the death of Rob Collins during the making of Tellin' Stories ("I can hear cer­tain con­flicts on there between us all. I think the ascent made us dizzy again. I still haven’t quite digested the songs."), but mostly it tracks a band who rose, fell and rose again, making it up as they went along and doing a pretty good job of it.

Beyond being a musician, Jon was a father and a husband. He was only 44.

The Charlatans kept me going through some grim times. His drumbeat kept my heart going. Thanks, Jon.

Is It In You? Brookes has brain tumour

So, that's why Jon Brookes collapsed, then: He's got a brain tumour.

The Charlatans' US tour has been cancelled; UK and other dates will go ahead with a temporary drummer while Brookes gets treatment.

Charlatans: Jon Brookes hospitalised

Waking up this morning to news of Jon Brooke's collapse on stage during The Charlatans' Philadelphia gig.

Apparently he stopped breathing before that old stand-by, a doctor in the house, was able to resuscitate him.

The official line from the band:

"[Jon] has now been transferred to a larger hospital in the city for further tests, although his condition is said to be improving and doctors believe there will be no long-term effects on his health."

It's not clear yet what this means for the Charlatans' US tour. Get well soon, Jon.

Charlatans axe North American tour

Americans and Canadians keen to stand within showering distance of Tim Burgess' gorgeous spittle are going to be disappointed, I'm afraid. We have locked him in a cupboard and aren't going to send him. Jon Brookes has done his shoulder in, needs surgery, and can't drum right now.