COAL CHAMBER drummer Michael "Mikey Bug" Cox has publicly revealed his battle with Stage 3 cancer — and his triumphant victory over the disease following a year of grueling treatment.
Cox was diagnosed on April 1, 2025. Over the following year he underwent radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, ultimately achieving cancer-free status. Despite the ordeal, he continued managing his construction company and composing music throughout the treatment.
"I was going to fight with everything I had for my family!" Cox declared.
True to that promise, he is set to perform with COAL CHAMBER at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas on April 25, 2026.
Rather than keeping his story private, Cox chose to turn his experience into something constructive — he has partnered with charity organization Fxck Cancer to auction a custom drum kit donated by ddrum. The package also features equipment from Scorpion Percussion, TRX Cymbals, and Gator Cases, with all proceeds benefiting cancer awareness and research.
Cox cited the organization's bold, direct approach as the reason for his choice: "It breaks stigma," he explained, referencing the no-nonsense way Fxck Cancer addresses the disease.
The announcement comes as COAL CHAMBER continue to rebuild as a band — the group's "Fiend For The Fans" US tour was cancelled in January 2025 following a health emergency involving vocalist Dez Fafara.