Not a pleasant morning by any means: following on from the sad news of Lou Reed’s death, it’s now been confirmed that Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie has been diagnosed with cancer.

As Consequence Of Sound report, McVie will begin treatment for his illness next month. The type and severity of McVie’s cancer has yet to be revealed, but the band’s forthcoming tour dates in Australia and New Zealand have now been cancelled as a result.

The news arrived via a message on the band’s Facebook page, which reads as follows:

Fleetwood Mac who has just completed the European leg of their phenomenally successful worldwide tour has announced the cancellation of their upcoming 14 date tour of Australia and New Zealand.

John McVie, one of the co founding and original members of Fleetwood Mac is now scheduled to be in treatment for cancer during that period of time.

We are sorry to not be able to play these Australian and New Zealand dates. We hope our Australian and New Zealand fans as well as Fleetwood Mac fans everywhere will join us in wishing John and his family all the best

Our best wishes to McVie throughout his treatment course. Fleetwood Mac are the strong favourites to headline Glastonbury 2014.