Wolfsbane guitarist Jase Edwards has been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer

By Paul Brannigan
( Metal Hammer )
published

British hard rock quartet Wolfsbane reveal guitarist Jase Edwards' diagnosis with multiple myeloma

Jase Edwards
(Image credit: C Brandon/Redferns)

Wolfsbane have revealed that guitarist Jase Edwards has been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer.

The Tamworth hard rock quartet, who released Genius, their first album in a decade, in June, made the announcement yesterday, August 1, on their social media channels.

The statement reads: "As you all know, Jase played the Genius Tour with a fractured vertebrae. We actually found out in the van on the way up to Edinburgh! With no impact or injury, he's been having tests to ascertain the cause.

"It is with deep regret we have to inform you that Jase has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. This is a bone marrow cancer that there is currently no cure for. It is however treatable. He started his first cycle of chemotherapy within 2 weeks of the tour ending and will hopefully go on to have a stem cell transplant in around 4 months' time.

"This has come out of the blue and is a massive shock to us all!

"He is mostly fine in himself and is looking forward to spending more time in the studio."

Wolfsbane were signed to Def Jam co-founder Rick Rubin's Def American label in 1989, and released three albums on the label before vocalist Blaze Bayley left to join Iron Maiden. 

The group recorded Genius with their original line-up: Bayley, Edwards, bassist Jeff Hateley and drummer Steve Danger. 

Paul Brannigan
Paul Brannigan
Contributing Editor, Louder

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.