Tim Burgess Pays Tribute To Jon Brookes

The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess has paid tribute to Jon Brookes, drummer and founding member of the band, who died last week, aged 44.

Burgess has written a blog for NME in which he says: “Last week we lost a brother, a friend, a band member and a huge part of all our lives.”

In the wake of Brookes’ death, Burgess reveals that the band have received tributes from fans around the world. Burgess writes: “We’ve had messages from all over the world from people sharing memories of Jon – kids who’d borrowed his drumkit, drummers inspired by his style, but most of all people saying he was one of the friendliest, funniest and thoughtful people that they’d ever met.”

Brookes had been receiving treatment for a brain tumour since suffering a seizure on tour in Philadelphia in 2010. Though he continued to perform with The Charlatans – he was back on stage a month after his US collapse – he underwent several operations and received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He suffered a relapse in September 2012 and was operated on as recently as July this year. A spokesperson for the band confirms that Brooks passed away peacefully in hospital on the morning of August 13, with his family at his bedside.