A rockstar who previously survived severe mental health battles is refusing cancer treatment, leaving them with ‘2-3 years’ to say goodbye to loved ones
Ginger Wildheart has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer – but won’t have treatment(Image: Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Ginger Wildheart, frontman of Newcastle group The Wildhearts has confessed that he has cancer but is refusing treatment, telling fans in a devastating update, “I’ve lived the life of ten men”
On Monday the heartbreaking news was revealed that Ginger – the singer, guitarist and founding member of the band, which blends hard rock and melodic pop, had been diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer – Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
Ginger subsequently took to social media and bravely declared to fans: “Thank you for all your messages of support. I won’t go through treatment. I’ve lived the life of ten men and will die with dignity. Still got 2-3 years to say goodbye to everyone. And I’ll be rocking until the very last moment.
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Ginger, second left, told fans he wanted ‘no sadness, just positivity'(Image: Redferns)
Devastated followers immediately flooded the comments section, with one writing, “Lots of love to you. Was so sorry to hear the news yesterday, keep rocking you absolute legend.”
Another penned: “Sorry to hear this dude. Sad news, but you are a ray of light.” A third wrote, “I couldn’t be more grateful for the ear candy you’ve provided me and look forward to more. Not only shocked but gutted.”
Another added: ” Doing it your way. The way that it has always been.” Another fan said: “My wildheart is broken. You are etched into my very being and have been there at every step of my journey. Your words and music resonate within my soul and will live on forever.”
Ginger responded to many of the warm posts, explaining his wish “for no sadness and positivity only.”
Mantle Cell Lymphoma, according to lymphoma-action.org is a “type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that develops from B cells. It is called ‘mantle cell’ lymphoma because the abnormal B cells usually develop in a part of your lymph nodes called the ‘mantle zone’.
“Mantle cell lymphoma usually grows quickly, like a high-grade lymphoma. Some people have a form of mantle cell lymphoma that grows more slowly. Mantle cell lymphoma is likely to come back (relapse) after treatment and need more treatment. This is like low-grade lymphoma”.
Ginger has been very open about the mental health issues that led to him being sectioned in 2023(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)
On Monday, the band confirmed that their stricken frontman vowed to press ahead with their upcoming tour despite his cancer battle. It begins in Liverpool on April 2 and ends on May 31 in Edinburgh.
In a statement posted to the band’s Instagram page on Monday, they wrote: “During The Wildhearts’ incredible More Satanic Rites tour in December 2025, frontman and founding member Ginger Wildheart was experiencing severe pains that some nights forced him to take some short breaks from stage.
“Determined not to upset the band’s loyal fans – new and old – Ginger took painkillers to ensure the rock’n’roll was delivered, without missing a riff. Away from the tour Ginger has sought medical tests and investigations to establish the cause of the ongoing issue.
“The results have been confirmed and we are saddened to report that Ginger has been diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) – a rare but aggressive strain of cancer”.
They added: “Right now Ginger is in fine fettle, continuing to write songs that will be released under the guise of The Wildhearts and as solo projects in the future.
“The follow-up to 2025’s The Satanic Rites is currently being finalised with announcements to follow later this year via Snakefarm/Universal. And most importantly ALL currently announced The Wildhearts shows (with more being announced over coming months) will go ahead.
“While we process this news and await further medical advice, Ginger wants everyone to know that strength and positivity will prevail and the show will go on. Make sure you come and see The Wildhearts – sounding bigger and more refreshingly amazing than ever – at a venue near you soon”.
He has been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive cancer Mantle Cell Lymphoma(Image: (C)SD Photography 2016 Simon Dun)
Ginger had previously battled serious mental health issues, leading in 2023 to him being sectioned and placed on suicide watch. And he was equally candid about that heartbreaking battle.
But having moved from York to a remote spot in the Yorkshire Dales in 2023, he revealed poignantly in an interview last year that he was beating his demons.
He confessed, “I needed to learn how to live with mental health and how to live with depression,” he explains. “I’d been chewed up, spat out, chucked around the system for years. Medication is not going to fix anything.
“So I came in here with lots of boxes, and I had to just open them one by one. I looked in the mirror, I made an inventory of all the things that I hated about my life and then started fixing them.”
Ginger added, ““At a time like now where people are being convinced by people like Russell Brand and Andrew Tate, it’s just telling a man: ‘It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to suffer. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to feel like you failed, like you’re on the bottom of your world,’ and ‘You can build yourself back up.”
It’s not the first devastating news to befall the band. Former Wildhearts bassist Scott Sorry, real name Gerard Engelter, died after a long battle with brain cancer on October 30th, 2025.
A sad statement released on his Instagram account read: “We’re heartbroken to share that Scott Sorry has passed away after a long and incredibly brave fight with brain cancer. Scott passed away on his 47th birthday, October 30th, 2025.
“We’re devastated beyond words, but there’s comfort in knowing he’s finally free from pain. His strength, humour, and heart will stay with us forever. Scott is survived by his wife Hanni and his three children River, Ryder and Rörik.”
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