Tony Mills has terminal cancer

[heavyharmonies]

So sad.

 

Full text:

 

Cancer.

Not only my birthsign, but now also my fate.
Recently diagnosed, but far too late. I have suffered since the end of last year, shortly after a car crash before Christmas, which halted my digestive system and left me with internal pain that was difficult to isolate or fully understand.
Various hospital visits found nothing from tests until I took myself to a private clinic in Oslo, where the doctor decided I was too unwell for normal scopes and I was scanned the following day.
A tumour too old and large to be removable had been growing inside me for a year or so and was the cause of all my problems. It seems to me that the car crash definitely accelerated the growth and/or effects of this entity, otherwise I may still not even be aware of it. So, that's that.

Standing back from this for a moment, to look at my ensuing album release, I am grateful to the people around me that have been involved with my latest album, 'Beyond the Law', that will very obviously be my last written work as an artist.
The timing was nothing short of a relief. I am glad it got finished in time.
Certainly not least my wife Linda, Pete Newdeck, Harry Hess, Tommy Denander, Toine Vanderlinden, Josh 'Tabbie' Williams, Tony Forsythe and Chris Aldridge on the studio level and Pete Kotevski from Battlegod Productions Jon Løvstad, Alex Cooper, Avalon Music and Ivan Gunn for artistic support, finance and logistics.
The record is delayed slightly, until June to help the different territories release simultaneously and assist the record in some success.
I was planning a thirty year anthology of solo material next year (1990-2020);
I have spoken to some of my colleagues and they may well organise that.

WIth regard to what will happen in the short term, I don't intend to do a lot; I gave up travelling after touring Spain three years ago, as I found it too tiring and it just felt like it was time to withdraw from such a public existence and get out of the spotlight. I have been a live performer in one fashion or another since 1978 and though many rockers paint the wrinkles and endeavour to recreate their long lost talents, that never interested me; I was always a believer in moving over for the youngsters and giving them their rightful opportunities while they were young and fit enough to do it with the energy that it requires.
I have been writing and recording for three years, mainly for other artists, which I have enjoyed a lot and for whatever time I have left, (which I will no doubt be told in no uncertain terms very soon) I intend to carry on that practice and work around the farm with my wife and the animals we love.
WIth little more to say for now, I will remain as sociable as possible for as long as I can, until it renders me incapable and then my wife will inform everyone of the eventualities. 
Thanks for your support during my time as a singer/songwriter; I met and worked with many of my heroes and I lived the dreams from when I was a starstruck teenager, against all odds and the advice of parents and teachers, who were all wrong.

Rock on.

Tony Mills

[Geoff]

Shit, very sad indeed. Seems very level headed about it, but jeez, just very sad. 

[AlphaMale]

Cancer sucks!

[mrbandwidth]

Sad news. I remember like yesterday when I bought Shy's Excess All Areas sung by Tony, having no idea about the band... One of the first and great albums of my early youth.

All the best for him and his family.

[gener8tr]

Wow.  Terribly sad.  What a brave individual he seems to be.  Not sure I could write so poignantly if I were in his shoes.

I was a big fan of SHY back in the day... I think EXCESS ALL AREAS will be played in-full at my house this evening.

God bless Tony Mills and his wife... I sincerely hope his remaining days are filled with as much joy and as little pain as possible.

[kourosofsteel3]

8 hours ago, gener8tr said:

Wow.  Terribly sad.  What a brave individual he seems to be.  Not sure I could write so poignantly if I were in his shoes.

I was a big fan of SHY back in the day... I think EXCESS ALL AREAS will be played in-full at my house this evening.

God bless Tony Mills and his wife... I sincerely hope his remaining days are filled with as much joy and as little pain as possible.

No Unfinished  Business?  

[Captain Howdy]

Sadly he has passed away

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-tnt-singer-tony-mills-dies-after-six-month-battle-with-pancreatic-cancer/

 

Former TNT vocalist Tony Mills has has died after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 57 years old.

The British-born singer appeared on three studio albums from TNT — 2007's "The New Territory", 2008's "Atlantis" and 2010's "A Farewell To Arms" — before exiting and being replaced by a returning Tony Harnell.

Mills's passing was confirmed by his wife Linda in a social media post earlier today. She wrote: "It is with a shattered heart that I announce the passing of my loving husband and best friend Tony Mills. He was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in April of this year and lived his life to the fullest until he exhaled for the last time in my arms. He wanted to live, but wasn't afraid of death.

"Most will know him through his incredible contribution to the music world as a singer in bands like SHY and TNT as well as a solo artist and session vocalist. He leaves behind him a legacy that will live on for many lifetimes.

"Those people closest to him will also know him as a gentle and kind soul, a dedicated husband with a love for the quiet life, his animals and his motorbikes. His sense of humour was always on point. His last summer was the happiest in his life, at the end of each day he exclaimed 'It's been another fantastic day!' He spent a lot of time in his workshop fixing up his dirtbike so he could ride it later this autumn. The evening before he passed, he managed to whisper: 'I've had a good life. I've had a GOOD life. I'm just a bit pissed about the bike.'"

TNT shared Linda's post and added in a statement: "TNT band & crew deeply regret the passing of our good friend and 2006 - 2013 TNT singer Tony Mills. You gave us 3 great albums, many great concerts and many great moments together on the road and in the studio. We feel a terrible loss. Fuck Cancer! Rest easy Tony."

Mills, who suffered a heart attack more than eight years ago, announced his cancer diagnosis in April via Facebook. He wrote at the time: "I have suffered since the end of last year, shortly after a car crash before Christmas, which halted my digestive system and left me with internal pain that was difficult to isolate or fully understand.

"Various hospital visits found nothing from tests until I took myself to a private clinic in Oslo, where the doctor decided I was too unwell for normal scopes and I was scanned the following day.

"A tumour too old and large to be removable had been growing inside me for a year or so and was the cause of all my problems. It seems to me that the car crash definitely accelerated the growth and/or effects of this entity, otherwise I may still not even be aware of it. So, that's that.

"Thanks for your support during my time as a singer/songwriter; I met and worked with many of my heroes and I lived the dreams from when I was a starstruck teenager, against all odds and the advice of parents and teachers, who were all wrong.

Mills toured the world with British AOR sensation SHY in the '80s and established himself as a versatile songwriter and session vocalist with a slew of U.S. artists during the '80s and '90s. While fronting TNT, he maintained an active solo career and continued being involved in session work.

Harnell, who fronted TNT during its most successful period, beat thyroid cancer in 2009 and later appeared in advertisements for the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in order to share his story and help educate others about the warning signs of thyroid cancer.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Holy shit. If you're not at least on the verge of tears after reading that, you're not human. What an incredible man. 

[lettard]

Absolute Legend...RIP Tony

Time to crank out Excess All Areas...along with Beyond The Law

[Doggy]

 RIP.

[Geoff]

Jeez it's a real fucker of a thing. Well, he certainly did indeed make the very most of his 57 years and gave us some great tunes along the way. I admire the way he was active and still living right to the very end. Rest in peace, Tony Mills.

[Stefan]

RIP Tony.

He sang a lot of cool stuff.

[crazynights]

Rip, We will remember you.

I played beyond the law this evening.

[Crazysam]

RIP Tony

[PeterS]

Really sad to read this. Saw Shy back in 90 and they really should have been bigger than they were. 

Always seemed a very decent guy and his grace at the end confirms those thoughts. 

R.I.P. 

[kourosofsteel3]

Emergency still has my all time favorite verses (not my favorite Shy tune, though). 

[martinsane]

Agreed Karpet and wow, 57, I'm only 6 years removed...

As mentioned cancer is a real mother and I know first hand hoe it can trash a life.

 

RIP Tony as mentioned you seemed to have lived as much as you were allowed and your music will live on and tell the world about you.

[Captain Howdy]

10 hours ago, PeterS said:

Really sad to read this. Saw Shy back in 90 and they really should have been bigger than they were.

Sadly the British music press did them no favours. I even remember so called journos from Kerrang referring to the band as Shyte on more than one occasion.