Nickelback Cancels Tour Due to Chad Kroeger Vocal Cord Problem

Canadian rock band Nickelback has been forced to cancel the North American leg of their No Fixed Address tour. Frontman Chad Kroeger was recently diagnosed with a cyst on his vocal cord and will need to undergo surgery to remove it.

Bandmates Ryan Peake and Mike Kroeger released this video to let fans know why the tour was being cancelled.

Kroeger, who is married to rock singer Avril Lavigne, will have to remain silent for three weeks prior to the surgery and for a period of time afterwards as well. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery in time for Nickelback to resume the European leg of their tour on Sept. 30. Nickelback is also expected to return to North America in 2016.

What are the vocal cords?

The vocal cords are two folds of smooth muscle within the voice box (larynx). The larynx lies at the top of the windpipe (trachea), just below the back of the tongue. Air passing through the vocal cords causes them to vibrate, and produce the sound of your voice.

What are vocal cord cysts?

Vocal abuse or misuse, such as excessive use of the voice when singing, talking, smoking, coughing, yelling, or inhaling irritants can cause abnormalities of the vocal cords, such as nodules, polyps, or cysts.The difference between these abnormalities is mostly a function of what kind of tissue is involved.

There are two types of vocal cord cysts:

• Epidermoid cysts– made of epidermal (skin) cells and keratin (the stuff hair and nails are made of)
• Mucous Retention cysts- clear fluid filled cysts.

Symptoms include hoarseness, vocal fatigue, low gravelly voice, airy or breathy voice, and/or frequent throat clearing.

Surgery is reserved for patients unresponsive to vocal therapy* and is a relatively simple procedure.

* Voice therapy is a variety of techniques designed to eliminate harmful vocal behaviors and alter the manner of voice production to allow damaged vocal tissue to heal.