Skyhooks guitarist Bob “Bongo” Starkie has cancelled an upcoming run of tour dates due to health issues.

The tour was set to begin at The Yarraville Club on Friday, 10 October, and continue with dates in Castlemaine (12 October), St Kilda (24 October), Archies Creek (25 October), and Healesville (26 October). Throughout the tour, Bongo was set to honour the iconic Skyhooks album, Ego Is Not A Dirty Word, upon its 50th anniversary.

Bongo was forced to cancel the tour dates due to ongoing issues with his previously announced battle with leukemia. The musician is “hopeful” that the shows will go ahead next year, but in the meantime, punters will be refunded.

In January, Bongo revealed that he’d been diagnosed with an “aggressive” type of leukemia and cancelled a few shows due to the diagnosis.

“This has come as a shock to me and my family,” he said at the time. “Life has been generous to me up until now, but sometimes, you draw the short straw. Apologies for any inconvenience; it stresses me to cancel the shows.

“I’ve been feeling on top of the world with the addition of [vocalist] Sasha [Theunissen] in the band, but the situation makes it impossible for the shows to go on at this point in time.”

Skyhooks archivist Peter Green added, “We are all shocked and saddened by this news. I’ve known Bob since I was 15 and know what a fighter he is. The band and those close to Bongo stand by him during these tough times.”

In May, Bongo’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help “relieve the financial burden” associated with his treatment and long road to recovery.

Bob’s brother, Peter Starkie, was the original guitarist for Skyhooks. Bob replaced Peter in August 1973, before the album Living In The 70’s was recorded.

Along with bandmate Red Symons (who replaced Peter Inglis), Starkie and Symons represented the dual guitar sound that was essential to the band’s sound. Bob Starkie has performed in every incarnation of Skyhooks.