Widespread Panic Cancel Asheville Run, Announce Jimmy Herring’s Cancer Diagnosis
Photo Credit: Marc Millman
On Sunday evening, July 21, Widespread Panic took to social media to share a health update regarding guitarist Jimmy Herring. The band used their collective internet platform to inform the public that Herring, who has been a member of the revered group since 2006, was diagnosed with stage 1 tonsil cancer and is expected to make a full recovery. As a result of the health update, the ensemble has canceled its impending run in Asheville, N.C., which was slated for July 25-27, 2024.
“The Widespread Panic Family is sad to report that our Brother, Jimmy Herring, has been diagnosed with stage 1 tonsil cancer. He will begin treatment immediately and is expected to make a full recovery,” the statement began. The band closed out the initial news by expressing joint comfortability with the status of Herring’s prognosis, adding, “That part we’re happy to report.”
Consequently, Widespread Panic has shifted its schedule to accommodate Herring’s treatment. The aforementioned announcement touched on the decision and included, “The Band will not be playing the upcoming Asheville dates. We will have a clearer picture of our future concert schedule in the next few days.”
According to Widespread Panic’s website, except for their canceled ExploreAsheville.com Arena dates, they intend to resume their schedule as is, beginning in late August with their already announced MGM Music Hall at Fenway Park dates. At this time, additional dates on their calendar have not been affected, including runs in Las Vegas (Sept. 20-22), Milwaukee, Wis. (Oct. 25-27) and Savannah, Ga. (Nov. 1-2).
Herring’s recent musical accolades include membership status in Widespread Panic. Before his WP arrival in the early 2000s, the guitarist lent his exceptional skills and approach to jamming as an original feature of the Col. Bruce Hampton-founded Aquarium Rescue Unit, and later, Jazz is Dead, with bassist Alphonso Johnson, keyboardist T Lavitz, and drummer Billy Cobham.
In addition to live acts, Herring demonstrated his instrumental expertise on studio albums such as The Derek Trucks Band’s Out of the Madness. On the road, the guitarist helped out with the Allman Brothers Band in 2000, joined Phil Lesh and Friends, and assisted with the Grateful Dead offshoot The Other Ones, which featured Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann. He continued as a contributing member through the transition into The Dead (2003 and 2004).
Following Herring’s 2006 Widespread status, he released a ‘08 record, Lifeboat, featuring Kofi and Oteil Burbridge, Sipes, Trucks, and others, and followed up four years later with a sophomore studio offering. Herring dropped Live from San Francisco, recorded at The Warfield on Dec. 8, 2017, releasing the set the following year as a partnered offering with John McLaughlin and his Invisible Whip band.
For the latest on Herring and Widespread Panic, visit widespreadpanic.com/news. For Asheville ticket holders, see the post (below) for more information.