Trevor Bolder in cancer battle

Fighting back: Trevor Bolder (Pic Maria Luisa Spagnuolo)

Words: Max Bell

Trevor Bolder has told Classic Rock that the reason for his recent surgery wasn’t a heart attack, as online rumours suggested – it was cancer.

But the Uriah Heep bassist is looking forward to life without the killer disease, and he’s revealed plans for a Spiders From Mars reunion later this year.

Heep last month announced that Bolder would be temporarily replaced by JJ Jowitt of IQ, Arena and Frost* fame, adding: “We all wish Trevor a speedy return to the fold.”

That led to speculation he’d suffered a heart attack.

But Bolder tells Classic Rock: “No. It wasn’t – it was cancer. I had a big operation in early January that will take me months to get over.

“I had pancreas cancer so I had to have that removed. Not the entire pancreas – but still, it was bad news. They’ve cut out the bad bit. I’ve had a bit of chemo, got to have that, which I’m doing now, in case there’s anything hanging about. Once that’s done, I should be back to doing what I do for a living.”

Bolder admits he was “shell-shocked” when doctors told him the news, but adds: “I’m over that. I’m up and down.”

He describes convalescence as “boring,” explaining: “I need to get my concentration back, to be honest, because I get tired real quick at the moment. Luckily I’ve got my studio at home so I can start messing around and get my efforts back. I want to do that, and write a few songs.

“In a couple of months I should be back to normal and doing roadwork with Uriah Heep. Originally, I was told it would be nine months. I’ve gone private now and they say it should be four months – as long as I take it steady.”

Bolder has also told Classic Rock that plans are afoot for the Spiders From Mars to play a reunion gig around Christmas, featuring him, drummer Woody Woodmansey and an as-yet unnamed vocalists.