Aerosmith bassist fights cancer, show goes on

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Aerosmith bass player Tom Hamilton has been diagnosed with throat cancer, but is expected to rejoin his bandmates on the road by mid-October, a spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Hamilton, 54, just completed a seven-week course of radiation treatment, according to a statement. His place on their upcoming fall tour with Motley Crue will be taken by David Hull, who played with guitarist Joe Perry in his 1970s solo outing the Joe Perry Project.

Hamilton co-wrote the Aerosmith hits "Sweet Emotion" and "Janie's Got A Gun" with singer

Steven Tyler. As with all his bandmates, Hamilton got hooked on drugs during their initial 1970s heyday, in his case cocaine. But they all cleaned up in time for their late-'80s comeback.

He is not the only member to receive medical treatment this year. Tyler successfully underwent experimental surgery to fix a broken blood vessel on his right vocal cord. His ailment forced the band to cancel about 20 shows in the spring.

Aerosmith's "Route of All Evil" tour begins September 14 in Holmdel, N.J.

Reuters