Bicep’s Matt McBriar Reveals Surgery to Remove Rare Brain Tumor

Matt McBriar, one half of the renowned electronic music duo Bicep, has revealed a recent surgical procedure to remove a rare brain tumor.

McBriar on Tuesday shared a statement via the band's Instagram page, writing that he started experiencing headaches and fatigue in late-2023 before conducting blood tests the following spring. The exams indicated "that something was wrong" so he opted for an MRI and CT scan, which detected a large tumor.

McBriar says his doctors discovered a craniopharyngioma tumor on his pituitary gland. Though typically benign, a growth of this variety can put pressure on the nerves, blood vessels or brain tissue near the pituitary gland, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

"The good news is firstly, it’s almost certainly not cancerous and secondly, I’ve caught it in the earlier stages of damage," McBriar said. "I'd been very lucky to get those initial blood tests followed by an MRI. Had it been much longer I might’ve lost some eyesight and a load of other problems due to the size and position of the tumour pressing on my optic nerves."

McBriar continued to play shows before ultimately undergoing brain surgery on August 9th, 2024. He's currently healing in the hospital after a successful operation to remove the tumor and looking at a recovery period of six to eight weeks, he said.

McBriar's bandmate, Andy Ferguson, will perform Bicep shows solo "until further notice" as he recovers. Upcoming tour dates include appearances at Creamfields, Making Time, Portola and CRSSD, among other international music festivals. Each of these performances are currently billed as the duo's innovative audiovisual show, "Chroma."

You can read McBriar's full statement below.

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