The Jezabels frontwoman Hayley Mary says the band have been “overwhelmed” and touched by the support from fans after it was revealed keyboardist Heather Shannon is undergoing emergency treatment for cancer.
As Tone Deaf reported last month, The Jezabels were forced to cancel all of their world tour dates for the year after Shannon required immediate treatment for ovarian cancer that was diagnosed three years ago.
“She’s in good spirits considering the situation and obviously it was a bit of a shock that things progressed for the worse and now she requires immediate treatment, which she’s going through right now,” Mary told triple j.
“But she’s really positive she’s having really good treatment and in good hands, we’re just trying to stay positive and make sure she has everything she needs and that’s the plan for the year now.”
Mary told Richard Kingsmill that Shannon was first diagnosed with a “low grade, slow-growing cancer” when the Sydney outfit began writing for their 2014 sophomore album, The Brink, in London.
“We’ve been keeping to ourselves for the last three years but having to cancel the tour we needed to give people a reason,” he said. “It was scary to do that so it’s really amazing to see how much support and peoples’ similar stories – it’s been quite heartening.”
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Mary explained that despite her condition, Shannon continued full-throttle with the band, even proving the catalyst for the band’s new album, Synthia, after purchasing a selection of new equipment.
“We were just back in town to do a show actually and ended up writing some songs accidentally and then we recorded a record – out of the blue,” said Mary. Hear the frontwoman’s chat with triple j below.
Fans wishing to make a donation to help ovarian cancer awareness or research can visit Ovarian Cancer Australia or the Australian New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group.
