Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer Chad Smith has said that Anthony Keidis is "on the mend" after his recent illness.Speaking to Radio X in London the drummer said Keidis will be back "better than ever" and that the band will be able to go ahead with their scheduled gig in Ohio on Monday, May 23.
Smith also said the band were "really upset" at having to cancel an appearance at the KROQ Radio Weenie festival last weekend. Keidis and the funk rock quartet were forced to pull out of festival gig when he was hospitalised after contracting a bout of intestinal flu.
Smith described the moment it was decided to cancel the Weenie festival appearance:
"His stomach was killing him [Keidis]. It was really scary. So we went directly to the hospital and we were really upset we couldn't play for the fans, but also more worried about him. I really appreciate all the well wishes."
The band are also preparing to release their new album The Getaway, due out on June 17. The first single 'Dark Necessities' was released on May 5. It will be the band's first studio album since 2011's I'm With You.