Steve Morse announced his hiatus from Deep Purple's shows and projects due to a heart-wrenching reason.
Deep Purple recently braved the COVID-19 pandemic after the health issue kept them away from their fans for years. They recently marked their return in February, kicking off their 2022 shows with three stops in Florida.
In the next few months, they will be performing in front of their Europe fans, including at Hellfest in France and Stimmen Festival in Germany.
However, Morse' return with the band was actually short-lived as the guitarist confirmed that he would be taking a break and have Simon McBride replace him in any upcoming dates.
On the rocker's official Facebook page, Deep Purple confirmed that the guitarist would not be part of their live shows but assured that he remains a full member of the band. It also quoted a statement Morse penned, stating that his break would allow him to take care of his wife, Janine, who is currently battling cancer.
"At this point, there are so many possible complications and unknowns, that whatever time we have left in our lives, I simply must be there with her. I am not leaving the band - I hope that after she gets a clean bill of health, I can re-join the tour," he said.
Morse also said that he continues to be part of the band as he still receives love and support from fans. In the end, he asked everyone to include his wife in their prayers.
The guitarist did not disclose what type of cancer his wife has or the severity of it as of this time.
Simon McBride Expresses Gratitude For Becoming Morse's Choice
In the same statement, McBride took his time to show how honored he is to temporarily fill in the space Morse would leave. He described Deep Purple as amazing musicians and people, so working with them is truly exciting for him.
"My thoughts are with Steve and Janine and their family. There will be no further comment and we kindly ask you to respect the family's privacy and keep them in your prayers at this time," he went on.
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McBride previously worked with Ian Gillan and Don Airey, so having him as a temporary addition to Deep Purple would surely be worth it.
Deep Purple previously released their 21st studio album, "Whoosh!" which contains their hit single, "Throw My Bones."
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