Coal Chamber continued its return to major festival stages with an appearance at Sick New World, reconnecting with fans in Las Vegas as part of its ongoing live run.
Following the performance, the band thanked the crowd and organizers on social media, calling the experience “truly sick” and praising the event for living up to its name. The group also confirmed it will next appear at Welcome to Rockville in Florida in May.
Ahead of the festival, drummer Mikey “Bug” Cox shared a personal update, revealing he had been battling Stage 3 cancer and is now cancer-free following treatment.
“GRATITUDE. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot, but it hits differently for me these days,” Cox said in a statement.
“April 1, 2025, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer… The first thing I said to my wife was that I was going to fight with everything I had for my family.”
Cox said the yearlong fight included radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
“After a yearlong battle and absolutely brutal rounds of radiation, chemotherapy, and eventually surgery, I’m so grateful to be able to say I made it to CANCER FREE,” he said.
He added that he wanted to create something positive from the experience, announcing a partnership with the organization Fxck Cancer to auction a custom one-of-a-kind drum kit, with proceeds supporting cancer awareness, resources and research.
“Today I celebrate life, healing, and the strength it takes to survive,” Cox said. “I cannot wait to get back on stage post-cancer. These upcoming shows are going to be something truly special.”
Formed in Los Angeles in 1993, Coal Chamber became a defining act of the late 1990s nu metal movement, known for its dark, groove-driven sound and gothic aesthetic. The band broke through with its Gold-certified self-titled debut album in 1997 and followed with releases including Chamber Music and Dark Days.
After disbanding in 2003, the group reunited in 2011 and later released Rivals in 2015, its first studio album in more than a decade.
⭐️ Coal Chamber
📍 Spiral Stage, Sick New World, Las Vegas, Nevada
🗓️ Saturday, April 25, 2026
📸 Jessica Ortiz
