The singer of Welsh rock legends Budgie has revealed he's suffering from a life-threatening illness and has ruled out having the operation which could save him.
Burke Shelley's stage career was effectively ended in 2010 when he was diagnosed with a six centimetre aortic aneurysm - a dangerous and abnormal swelling of the main artery that supplies blood to the body - whilst on tour in Europe.
Now, a decade later, the 69-year-old says he's turned down surgery for a recurring condition because it might cause irreparable spinal damage and he doesn't want to spend what time he has left bed bound or in a wheelchair.
But the Cardiff bassist and frontman - whose music in the early '70s went on to influence some of the biggest names in rock music, from Iron Maiden to Metallica - adds that he hopes to release one more album of unheard Budgie songs while he's still able to do so.
"Doctors have informed me I've got another aneurysm, a critical one, even higher up my aorta this time - it's been there for more than six months," says Llanishen-raised Burke, also suffers from a Stickler syndrome - a genetic disorder that can cause serious vision, hearing and joint problems.
Burke says he never came to terms with no longer being able to sing

Orgasmatron 5.01;Soul Asylum 3.02;Turbo 14.02;Purple Day 22.02 ;NK 29.03; Memoriał Dio 16.05 ; GN'R 12.07 ; D.R.I. 22.07 ;Kult 15.08 ;Acid Drinkers 4.10 ;Candlemass 22.11