Andy Anderson death: The Cure drummer dies aged 68 weeks after announcing terminal cancer

The Cure drummer Andy Anderson has passed away aged 68, just weeks after announcing he had been diagnosed with cancer.

According to founding band member Lol Tolhurst, Anderson died “peacefully at home” just before 6pm on Tuesday.

In a previous tweet, Tolhurst wrote: “It's with a heavy heart, I have to report the passing of a Cure brother.

“Andy Anderson was A true gentleman and a great musician with a wicked sense of humor which he kept until the end, a testament to his beautiful spirit on the last journey. We are blessed to have known him.”

Earlier this month, Anderson told fans that he had terminal 4 cancer “covering the inside of his body”, adding that he was “totally fine and aware of his situation”.

He wrote: “I have a next of kin in place and there is no way I would want them to be looking at me as a vegetable if I were to survive a resuscitation it may well involve the possibility of sustaining cracked ribs and brain damage and I would hate to lay that on anyone.

“Chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be discussed over the next few days, hopefully I'll be able to get back to you in the next few days about the outcome.

"No boo-hooing here, just be positive. For me, it’s just another life experience and hurdle, that one has to make, yet another choice in life. Be cool, I most definitely am and positive about the situation.”

Anderson, real name Clifford Leon Anderson, joined The Cure in 1983 after Tolhurst, who had been the original drummer, switched to play the keys.

Anderson’s first album with the band was The Top, released in 1984, and his first experience of chart success was with track The Love Cats.

The musician then went on to have a successful career as a session star, working with artists from Iggy Pop to Peter Gabriel.