Longtime The Pogues guitarist PHILIP CHEVRON has been forced to pull out of the reformed Irish folk rockers' North America tour, after learning he has throat cancer. Chevron reveals the bad news on the band's website, explaining he was diagnosed with the disease a month ago (Jun07). In a group statement on the site, his bandmates support his decision to withdraw from the planned tour, which will go ahead without him. They state, "This decision to suspend his live work has the complete support of the other Pogues who wish him a good and complete recovery. "Though it is not yet known when Chevron will return to live work, it is hoped that he will again be available towards the end of this year." The Pogues U.S. tour begins in Seattle, Washington on 17 October (07).