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Rock Legend Red Symons Visits Sick Bandmate Bob Starkie Amid Cancer Battle

BBG News

Australian rock legend Red Symons recently made a hospital visit to his ex-bandmate from Skyhooks, Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie.

It came as a surprise to the Australian music scene when it was announced last week that Bob has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.

On a Tuesday, Bob, who is 72 years old, posted on Facebook that he felt more cheerful following a visit from a 75-year-old lead guitarist.

Red was accompanied by his former Hey Hey It’s Saturday bandmate Wilbur Wilde.

In the midst of trying times, I found myself surrounded by three individuals who radiated joy and camaraderie. With a sense of pride, I gently placed my hand on the shoulder of one, offering silent support, as if to say, “We’re in this together.

In his caption, Bob said that the visit was exactly the medicine he needed.

‘A couple of heavy hitters gave me a visit on the weekend,’ he wrote.

‘Lifted my spirits no end. A lot of memories, laughs.’

As a devoted enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that just moments ago, Bob graced us with a heartening update on his health! He proudly declared that he’s currently in tip-top form and feeling fantastic. It’s music to our ears, truly!

In simpler terms, Bob shared his diagnosis as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a form of cancer that progresses quickly, but he emphasized that there’s hope for recovery, stating confidently, “But don’t worry, I’m going to overcome this.

I’m doing really well, and everything looks promising. I have an exceptional team supporting me, and they’ve launched our offensive swiftly.

‘I’m 5 days into chemo. My constant companion is a drip stand with I.V pumps.’  

The guitarist took to Facebook last week to reveal his diagnosis.

As it turned out, when Bob’s group was rejoicing over their classic album, “Living in the 70’s,” it made a comeback on the ARIA top ten chart.

The post stated that on the 24th of January, Friday, the esteemed members of the Australian group Skyhooks were commemorating the re-emergence of their album “Living in the 70’s” reaching the Top 10 on the ARIA charts.

Meanwhile, it was announced that the band’s guitarist, Bob “Bongo” Starkie, had to seek medical attention at a hospital because of some health issues.

‘Unfortunately, the test results revealed that Bob has been diagnosed with aggressive leukemia.’

The announcement makes it clear that all of Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie Skyhook’s future concerts have been called off, including the two Sydney ‘Rock the Harbour’ performances slated for this coming Saturday, February 15th.

It also included a statement from Bob who said the diagnosis had come as a shock. 

I’ve been utterly taken aback, myself and mine included. For the longest time, fortune seemed to smile upon us unendingly, but then fate dealt us a difficult hand.

I’m truly sorry for any trouble this may cause you, as I find it quite distressing to have to cancel the performances. With Sasha joining our band, I’ve been on cloud nine, but unfortunately, the current circumstances don’t allow us to carry on with the shows at present.

The post was met with an outpouring of well wishes from friends, fans and followers.

One fan expressed their shared dismay, saying, ‘We’re just as stunned as you are.’ They sent their encouraging vibes, adding, ‘Wishing you the best of luck for your upcoming battle.’

A different person added: ‘I believe you’re the one who can outdo it! Wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care and get better soon, my friend.’

Others were quick to tell the musician that apologising for cancelling shows was not necessary.

Surprised by the news about Bob, sending my thoughts to him and his loved ones. I’ll postpone our performances for now, stay optimistic, and wish him good health.

‘Take the time to get well.’

In a conversation with News Corp, Skyhooks archivist Peter Green expressed that the band’s numerous fans were deeply affected by the news, feeling a sense of sadness.

‘We are all shocked and saddened by this news,’ he told the publication.

I’ve been friends with Bob since I was fifteen years old, and I can attest to his fighting spirit. During these challenging times, both the band and those closest to him are offering their unwavering support for him.

1974 marked the breakthrough of Australian band Skyhooks on the pop scene, as their first album “Living in the 70’s” made a significant impact on music charts.

The group was recognized for their extravagant outfits, heavy makeup, and song lyrics that frequently drew upon Australian locations and traditions.

The band wasn’t shy about stirring up debates, as six out of the album’s ten songs were deemed unsuitable for radio broadcast because of their potentially offensive lyrics.

Contrarily, the tune “You Only Love Me for My Ability to Perform Intimately” was the opening number on Double J (later Triple J) radio station when it went live in January 1975.

The album stayed number one on the Australian charts for 16 consecutive weeks, making it the best-selling locally produced album in that period.

2011 saw the addition of a renowned album to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Sounds of Australia collection.

After that, the group continued to produce four additional studio albums, among which were “Ego Is Not A Dirty Word” from 1975 and “Straight in a Gay World” from 1976.

2020 saw the unfortunate passing of Bob’s bandmate, Peter, from Skyhooks, following an accidental fall off a ladder at his residence in Victoria. Subsequently, Bob received a diagnosis in the same year.

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2025-02-04 08:37

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