Raul Malo, the singer for the country-rock band the Mavericks, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2024. On Wednesday, he announced that the Mavericks will be canceling their remaining concerts scheduled for this year as he continues to fight the disease.
“I want to update you all on my health, as things have taken a turn,” Malo wrote in a letter posted to Instagram. “As it goes with cancer, it’s a very unpredictable and indiscriminatory disease. I’ve developed something called LMD, which stands for ‘get this shit out of my head.’”
LMD, or leptomeningeal disease, is cancer that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Malo says that’ll begin radiation treatment, and is also exploring chemotherapy and alternative therapies. “But,” he writes, “it’s time to take your words to heart of resting & recovering, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
Since Malo’s original diagnosis, the Mavericks have continued to tour with minimal interruptions. However, the group announced they’ll be canceling all concerts on the slate for 2025, except for a pair of shows in December at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. “Hang on to your tickets for the Ryman in December, as we are planning something special there, and hope to announce that very soon,” Malo writes.
Despite the setback, Malo says that he is in “no way alone, or scared,” and thanked fans for their messages of support.
“We don’t know what this will look like a couple months from now, but we are going into it like we have with everything else. Full steam ahead. Fight, recover, rest, repeat,” he says. “Find kindness and empathy out there wherever you can. Humans are alright, even if you don’t believe it from what you see on TV.”
Read Malo’s full message:
Dear Friends,
I want to update you all on my health, as things have taken a turn. As it goes with cancer, it’s a very unpredictable and indiscriminatory disease. I’ve developed something called LMD, which stands for “get this shit out of my head”. Treatment for this is radiation, which I will start tomorrow. We will probably jump into some chemo, and are even looking at alternative therapies. But it’s time to take your words to heart of resting & recovering, so that’s what I’m going to do.
Unfortunately, this does mean all shows going forward are canceled, but we’ll continue doing cool projects, releasing live recordings, merchandise, Trovador and so forth. I want to thank Dwight Yoakam, his band, and crew for their kindness and understanding this year, and sorry we couldn’t finish the tour the way we planned. Hang on to your tickets for the Ryman in December, as we are planning something special there, and hope to announce that very soon.
But I want to let everybody know, I am in no way alone, or scared. I have an amazing wife and sons, wonderful family, team, road crew, band, friends and fans. I don’t even have enough words to describe the love and support that I’m getting right now. To my friends who have sent me texts and messages, I want you to know that I’ve read them all. I can’t return them all, but your love, prayers, and well wishes have not gone unnoticed.
We don’t know what this will look like a couple months from now, but we are going into it like we have with everything else. Full steam ahead. Fight, recover, rest, repeat. I want to thank you all for your incredible support through all this, & sorry about the cancellations but we have no choice anymore. Find kindness and empathy out there wherever you can. Humans are alright, even if you don’t believe it from what you see on TV. We will keep you informed as this goes, and I promise, no more bullfighting pictures without context.
With love,
RM
