Band of Heathens’ Gordy Quist Shares Cancer Diagnosis

Gordy Quist, singer and guitarist with the Band of Heathens, has announced he has Stage 3 colorectal cancer. The diagnosis followed a routine colonoscopy despite him having no symptoms, prompting him to urge people who are overdue for screening to arrange one.

Quist will step away from touring for the foreseeable future to focus on treatment, while encouraging fans to attend the band’s dates with Donovan Frankenreiter. He co-founded the group with Ed Jurdi in 2005 and plans to keep making music at home; he will share health updates on his personal website. The article also notes rising colorectal cancer rates across age groups and Quist’s advice that people aged 45 or older, or anyone who has noticed blood in their stool, discuss a colonoscopy.