The Offspring guitarist Noodles steps away from live shows over health issue

The Offspring guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman is stepping away from live performances while he deals with what he described as a sudden and serious health issue. In a statement posted through the band’s official social accounts on October 21, he said the break is temporary and that he hopes to return to the stage.

The band plans to continue performing during his absence. Noodles’ last show before the announcement was Mission Bayfest in San Diego on October 18, according to reports that carried the statement. The Offspring’s own tour page still lists dates beginning with an October 24 benefit at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, followed by scheduled appearances in Las Vegas and Mexico City in November.

Noodles has been the group’s lead guitarist since its early years and has played across the catalog that took The Offspring from the Southern California punk circuit to an international audience. His long-running partnership with singer and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland is a defining part of the band’s sound, from the tightly clipped rhythm parts to the melodic lead breaks that sit inside its fastest songs.

No diagnosis, replacement player or return date was disclosed. The practical news for ticket holders is that the shows remain on the calendar, but the lineup onstage will change for an unspecified period while one of the band’s longest-serving members focuses on his health.