Onslaught guitarist Nige Rockett recently opened up in an interview with Thunder Underground about his harrowing battle with cancer and the physical toll it has taken on his music career.
Earlier this year, Rockett made his return to the stage during the 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise, marking his first performance in three years after a long battle with illness. This concert also kicked off Onslaught’s 40th-anniversary tour, celebrating their influential 1985 thrash metal debut, Power From Hell.
Rockett spent the last three years undergoing intensive treatment to combat his cancer. His treatment included chemotherapy as well as multiple surgeries, particularly targeting his upper and lower spine.
Detailing his recovery process, Rockett explained:
“I’m still a little way off, because of the time I was out and the nature of my illness. I lost a lot of natural strength. I completely lost the use of my arms for maybe six to nine months. So, I need to get all my muscle back, get up to speed with the material. I mean, it’s coming. I’m rehearsing a lot every day on my own, and things are coming back slowly. So I think once we hit a good run of shows, ’cause that always gets your fitness going again, I think I’ll be okay.”
Despite still facing ongoing challenges, Rockett emphasized that he is gradually recovering. Currently, the band is preparing to release their next major project, Origins Of Aggression, a comprehensive double-disc compilation.
The first disc revisits and reimagines 10 tracks from Onslaught’s formative years (1982–1989), while the second disc showcases covers of iconic metal and punk songs.
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