Tico Torres, the 59-year-old drummer for Jon Bon Jovi, is undergoing emergency surgery for severe abdominal pain, his second time at the ER in the past two weeks.
Torres was rushed to the hospital on Friday for emergency gall bladder surgery. He underwent an appendectomy at American British Cowdray Hospital Sept. 10 after suffering from similar pains. The surgery reportedly went well,
according to the band’s website.
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Bon Jovi is currently on their “Because We Can” tour across North America, Latin America, Japan, and Australia. The band was forced to postpone a few shows in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico as a result of Torres’ absence.
New Jersey-born Rich Scannella will fill in for Torres until doctors clear him to play. This past weekend, the band played the “Rock in Rio” festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Torres is expected to hit the stage again in the near future.
“Tico Torres has been the heart and soul of our band since we started 30 years ago,” Jon Bon Jovi said on the band’s website. “He’s also one tough SOB and we look forward to him again pounding away brilliantly at the drums on remainder of this and future tours.”
Torres said he was disappointed about missing out on the shows, but promised in a statement that he will "be there in spirit and back on stage soon."
"I would like to say a quick Thank You to all of you who have kept me in your thoughts thus far," he wrote. "There is nothing that can prepare one for a medical emergency but I have been taken especially good care of and would again like to thank all my doctors and health care professionals."
In addition to playing with Bon Jovi, the veteran rocker has performed with Chuck Berry, Pat Benatar, Alice Cooper, Cher, and Stevie Nicks.
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