A rock musician in a tribute band has found himself fighting the same health battle as one of the rockstars he imitates.

While lead guitarist of the legendry rock group Black Sabbath undergoes treatment for lymphoma cancer, Jon Payne – a bass player with tribute act From Sabbath to Hell is facing his own cancer battle.

And just like his idol, he is determined the show must go on. Tony Iommi is currently touring with Black Sabbath while he is undergoing treatment for lymphoma cancer.

Mr Payne, from Bewdley, visited the doctors last week who found a shadow on his colon and placed him on a 24-hour alert for an operation, but in true rock and roll style he pleaded with doctors to postpone the treatment until Monday – when all of From Sabbath to Hell’s shows have been played.

“I beat the first bit – the testicular cancer – and was in remission for three weeks, but then they found the shadow on my colon,” said Mr Payne.

“They’ve caught it at stage one so after this treatment, it is a matter of having a weekly injection which will be on a Monday, which is good because our gigs are generally on the weekend so I’ve got all week to recover from the treatment.

“I told them that any major treatment I need can I have it after the 19th, but they said when I went today that if they delayed it they could be sued for malpractice, so I told them to do what they had to do.

“So if they do it on Wednesday, August 14, I’ve got Thursday to sleep it off, then on Friday we play in at the Courthouse in Dudley, Bolton on Saturday and the Virgin Tavern, Worcester, on Sunday.”

Before the show, Mr Payne must have injections, a colonoscopy and laser surgery, but he is still determined the tour-ending matinee show at the Virgin Tavern in Tolladine Road, Worcester, will go ahead and no other dates have been cancelled.

“One thing I thought (when I found out) was that we were trying to be the most authentic Sabbath band around and as Iommi got cancer, I got it too!

“We’re the only Sabbath band with a member from Sabbath land and who are actually endorsed by Sabbath themselves.”

The bassist was also taught by and remains good friends with original Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler.

Colin Smith, who organised the show at the Virgin Tavern, said: “I can’t find the true words to describe how I feel about his bravado, courage, will and determination to carry on and, in true showbiz style, say ‘'The show must go on’.”

For a list of upcoming shows and venue lists for the band’s current tour list, visit the the Facebook page, From Sabbath to Hell.

FACTFILE - BLACK SABBATH Black Sabbath were formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne and drummer Bill Ward.

After multiple line-up changes, Tony Iommi is the only member to have constantly remained in the band.

Associated with occult and horror themes, Black Sabbath also composed songs dealing with social instability, political corruption, the dangers of drug abuse and apocalyptic prophecies of the horrors of war. Black Sabbath are cited as pioneers of heavy metal.

They have sold more than 15 million records in the United States and more than 70 million records worldwide. Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Their top hits include Paranoid, The Wizard, Iron Man, Children of the Grave, War Pigs, N.I.B, Supernaut, Sweet Leaf, and Sympton of the Universe.