Sick of It All’s Lou Koller Reveals Tumor Diagnosis, Band Cancels European Tour
Lou Koller, frontman for Sick of It All, has revealed that doctors have found a tumor in his esophagus. The long-running New York Hardcore band has subsequently canceled its upcoming European tour dates.
Koller’s brother Pete, who plays guitar in Sick of It All, has posted a GoFundMe to raise money for Lou’s medical care. “My big brother, Lou, has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma cancer,” Pete wrote. Sick of It All … will not be Is touring until Lou beats this and recovered. As you know, touring is the lifeline for a band like Sick of It All. If you could help him, it would be greatly appreciated and please share this GoFundMe around.” The bands Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, AFI, and Hot Water Music, among others, have all made donations.
On Friday, Lou Koller posted about the diagnosis on to Instagram. “[Doctors] found a tumor in my esophagus that goes into my stomach, and I’ll have to be getting treatment all summer — and of course, with full support of the band,” he said in a video. “As soon as they heard it, they were, like, ‘Forget the tour. Just get healthy.’ … They’re all behind me staying home and us staying home.”
Sick of It All’s European tour was supposed to kick off in the Czech Republic on July 4 with dates set across the continent for the next month.
Koller ended the message, in which he apologized to the band’s fans, crew, and promoters, with words of hope: “I’ll hopefully beat this thing and see you at the end of the summer … or maybe the winter.”
In 1986, Lou and his brother Pete Koller formed Sick of It All with drummer Armand Majidi in Queens, New York. At a time when the hardcore punk scene in the city was dwindling, the group issued its debut, Blood, Sweat and No Tears, in 1989 and, through constant touring, became one of the most prominent and visible New York Hardcore bands. A tribute album to Sick of It All, Our Impact Will Be Felt, came out in 2007 and featured Hatebreed, Sepultura, Napalm Death, Madball, and others covering the band’s songs.
The band, which has featured Craig Setari on bass since 1993, last put out an album — Wake the Sleeping Dragon! — in 2018 but have continued its relentless touring schedule since then.
This article was updated at 11:57 A.M. on July 1 to include Pete Koller’s GoFundMe post.