Charlatans drummer, Jon Brookes dies aged 44

Jon Brookes, the drummer with the British rock band The Charlatans, has died at the age of 44.

He had been receiving treatment for a brain tumour after suffering a seizure on tour in 2010.

A founder member, Brookes enjoyed long-running success with the band, recording 11 studio albums between 1990 and 2010.

The Charlatans first enjoyed success with the hit single The Only One I Know amid a blossoming UK indie music scene that had found its figureheads in influential Manchester bands The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.

While others fell by the wayside, The Charlatans continued to develop their keyboard-driven sound through the 'Madchester' (although they derived from the West Midlands and Northwich) and 'baggy' indie scenes, settling into a more Stones-y  groove and swagger and more recently harnessing an American-influenced country rock and soul sound.

Another original member of the group, keyboard player Rob Collins, was killed in a car crash in 1996.

Lead singer of The Charlatans, Tim Burgess said on Twitter:

"Jon Brookes, my friend, our drummer and inspiration to so many, passed away this morning. We are torn apart. Love & thoughts to Jon's family"

The band issued a statement on their website, which reads as follows:

"It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Jon Brookes, the drummer with The Charlatans, died this morning aged 44.

"Following a seizure on tour in Philadelphia in 2010, Jon had been receiving treatment for a brain tumour and had undergone several operations, although he had been working on new material with the band over the summer.. He passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning with his family at his bedside.

"Jon was a founding member of The Charlatans, who formed in the West Midlands in 1989. He was much loved by those who knew him and regarded as one of the finest drummers of his generation and will be dearly missed by all who knew him."

The group added: “Jon was a brilliant drummer, an inspiration, a founding member of The Charlatans, part of our family and a friend to everyone in and around the band. Losing someone who was always so full of life is a tragedy that will be shared by so many. Our thoughts are with Debbie and all of Jon’s family. - The Charlatans."