SLADE frontman Noddy Holder has secretly been battling cancer for the past five years.
The Cheshire resident was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2018 and told he had just “six months to live”.
His wife, Suzan Holder, made the revelation in a column for Cheshire Life magazine.
She wrote: “Five years ago we were given the devastating news that he had oesophageal cancer and only had six months to live.
“I’m sorry if that comes as a bit of a shock; it came as a total bombshell to us too.
“We coped with it the only way we could, by hunkering down, sticking together and doing everything we could to survive it.
“We told only immediate close family and friends and I will never apologise to those we did not confide in, only to those who were forced to suffer pain and anguish alongside us as we attempted to navigate our way through this new and horrifying world.
“They held our hands and kept our confidence. We truly found out who our real friends are.”
Noddy fronted the glam rock band Slade, known for their singles Merry Xmas Everybody and Far Far Away, until he left in 1992.
The 77-year-old was born in Walsall before moving to Cheshire with his wife Suzan.
In 2021 he criticised the now cancelled High Speed 2 railway network, which was due to pass near his home.
Since being diagnosed he has received treatment at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and underwent a ground-breaking new form of chemotherapy which has helped keep him alive.
Now “feeling good and looking great”, Noddy has been able to get back into his music.
Suzan wrote: “When an opportunity to perform on stage arose this summer, Noddy was thrilled to be able to do it.
“He has never had any interest in attempting to recreate his Slade days, he’s proud of the 25 years he spent in the band but that time is behind him.
“New challenges are what interests and excites him.
“He was tempted back on stage by an invitation from Cheshire musician Tom Seals.”
Read the full story in the November issue of Cheshire Life, out now.
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