With a well-deserved reputation as one of the hardest working bands in rock & roll, the Supersuckers have been on the road for nearly three decades now, blazing a path across stages around the world. But that all came to an abrupt halt in June of last year, when singer and bassist Eddie Spaghetti was diagnosed with stage 3 throat cancer. The unwelcome news forced the band to cancel a European tour. Meanwhile, Spaghetti was faced with an uncertain future, both personally and professionally.
“It was just all these unknowns before I knew exactly where the cancer started and what kind of cancer it was,” he says. “That was the scariest time of course, because you don’t know and your mind races—‘Is it in my brain, is it in my ass, where’s this cancer starting?’”
When the news was ultimately shared with the public, there was an outpouring of support from fans and friends, with a “Fly The Middle Finger at Cancer” campaign that raised funds for the eventual surgery and radiation treatments that he would undergo. The amount of emotional encouragement and financial aid was a bit humbling for the singer, who was used to providing for himself and his family on his own.
“The silver lining to all this was the support I got from strangers and people I know alike,” he says. “It fortifies your faith in humanity a little bit, which is something everybody could use.”
Though the healing process was an arduous one, Spaghetti—who is now cancer-free—likes to highlight the positive aspects that the forced break brought into his life, both on and off the stage. “I got to spend more time with my family and that’s something that I really appreciate now,” said Spaghetti.
He also thinks that his voice may have improved as a result of the ordeal. “I had never taken that much time off from singing or talking,” he says. “I feel like my range is a little bit better, and I’m able to belt it out just like I used to.”
The Supersuckers are currently flaunting their renewed spirit and showcasing songs from their latest album, Holdin’ The Bag, a country-tinged collection that was recorded just before the cancer diagnosis. Spaghetti says he is glad to be back on the road and appreciates all the support from his fans. “It’s super cool to see people coming out to the shows, we’ve been doing this a long time and it’s nice to see that people still care.”
Supersuckers
Oct 21, 8pm, $15-$18
The Ritz, San Jose
