Bon Jovi took to the stage at the Rock in Rio Festival in Rio De Janeiro without a key member of the band: Tico Torres.
Torres was rushed to the hospital for a second time with severe pain in his abdomen. The 59-year old drummer underwent emergency gall bladder surgery, according to the band’s website.
STORY: Jon Bon Jovi Speaks Out on Drummer Tico Torres’ Surgery
“This follows an emergency appendectomy last week,” reports the band. “He is expected to return to the stage and the Bon Jovi tour in the very near future.”
New Jersey drummer Rich Scannella wiil fill in for Torres as the band soldiers on for its “Because We Can” tour.
“Tico Torres has been the heart and soul of our band since we started 30 years ago,” said Jon Bon Jovi. “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 expressed disappointment that he will not be performing in the near future, 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.”
Twitter: @MicheleAmabile
