‘You’re always with me’: Max George gets a tattoo tribute of late bandmate Tom Parker’s birthdate after singer’s death from brain cancer aged just 33
Max George has got a tattoo tribute of his late bandmate Tom Parker’s birthdate.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the Wanted star, 33, uploaded a series of snaps revealing his tattoo of the date ‘04.08.1988’, writing alongside his post: ‘Happy Birthday brother… you’re always with me’.
Tom died on March 30 age 33 following a near two-year battle with stage 4 glioblastoma.
He and wife Kelsey bravely shared every step of his cancer journey in a bid to raise funds and awareness for brain cancers.
‘Happy Birthday brother’: Max George has got a tattoo tribute of his late bandmate Tom Parker’s birthdate
And marking what would have been his 34th birthday, Max displayed his new inking dedicated to Tom, with the tattoo located on his left shoulder.
The Strictly Come Dancing star uploaded a series of images of him showing off his hunky frame, with Max donning a silver chain and a pair of sunglasses in the shots.
He also posted pictures and a video of him getting the tattoo as he laid down on a table.
So sad: Tom died on March 30 age 33 following a near two-year battle with stage 4 glioblastoma
In May, Max detailed how he still texts late bandmate Tom in the months following is death.
Appearing on This Morning, Max revealed he finds comfort in sending Tom’s phone photos from fans as he tries to process The Wanted star’s passing, but admitted he occasionally forgets the singer has died when he does message him.
He said: ‘I’m still trying to process it, I still text him actually. If I get pictures or stuff that fans have made with him in it or they send a nice message to do with Tom, I’ll WhatsApp it to him.
Tattoo: Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the Wanted star, 33, uploaded a series of snaps revealing his tattoo of the date ‘04.08.1988’, writing alongside his post: ‘Happy Birthday brother… you’re always with me’
Tribute: Marking what would have been his 34th birthday, Max displayed his new inking dedicated to Tom, with the tattoo located on his left shoulder
‘I just find a bit of comfort in that. The worst bit is when I’m not doing it and I do it accidentally. Sometimes I go to do it and I’m like, ‘Oh no’.’
Meanwhile Tom’s memoir, Hope, released posthumously in May, chronicled his life from an aspiring singer in Bolton to the final months of his cancer battle.
Talking about Tom’s book, Max revealed, ‘It’s a book that Tom did over the last 12 months of his life.
Needle work: He also posted pictures and a video of him getting the tattoo as he laid down on a table
Remembering his friend: The singer got a permanent reminder of his beloved friend’s birthday inked onto his skin
Sweet: Max paid a sweet tribute to Tom on what would have been his 34th birthday
‘It goes from the very start, from his upbringing all the way to the end – the whole journey, how he had rough beginnings and his own troubles, but it’s a book about hope and it’s a book about triumph and obviously Tom had a lot of difficulties along the way, especially towards the end – the most difficult thing anyone could go through – and Kelsey, obviously.’
On how Kelsey is doing, Max said, ‘Kelsey’s been awesome. She’s always been really strong, like Tom. They were literally two peas in a pod. She’s raising awareness for glioblastoma and cancer in general,, she’s been great. We talk quite often, just check in, make sure she’s alright.’
Dermot asked if Tom enjoyed the process of writing the book and Max said, ‘There were days where the days were quite long, especially when he was going through the chemo phase because I know that really knocked him, but even still, he got through it.
Heartbreak: In May, Max detailed how he still texts late bandmate Tom in the months following is death
‘It was probably therapeutic for him on those days where he could just sit back and talk.
‘To be honest I don’t know how he did that, because he was going through hell, but he was still out there talking to people that had glioblastoma… and how they could put a positive spin on it and that they still have life to live.’
On having the conversation with Tom and Kelsey about helping with the book, Max said, ‘I said a few months ago, ‘Anything you need, to help with the book’, but I didn’t know I would be sat here without Tom. When I got here, I was like ‘Oh man, I’m about to talk about Tom’s book.’
Forever loved: Appearing on This Morning, Max revealed he finds comfort in sending Tom’s phone photos from fans as he tries to process The Wanted star’s passing (pictured September 2021)
Elsewhere, Tom’s widow Kelsey has opened up about the importance of The Wanted getting back together before her late husband’s passing in an interview last month.
The mother-of-two called the other band members his ‘brothers’, adding that Tom needed to ‘feel that strength from them’ as he battled a brain tumour.
Speaking to the White Wine Question Time podcast, Kelsey added that her late husband ‘loved’ work and music and was pleased the band reunited earlier this year.
Kelsey told host Kate Thornton that the singer ‘needed that band to get back together’ after they announced their temporary break in 2014.
‘They were his brothers’: Tom’s widow Kelsey has opened up about the importance of The Wanted getting back together before his passing in an interview last month
Candid: The mother-of-two called the other band members his ‘brothers’, adding that he needed to ‘feel that strength from them’ (pictured in 2021)
She continued: ‘I think even for him to get through the whole treatment, just everything…
‘I think the the band getting back together was was massive for him…
‘Tom loved work, he loved music. He needed that band to get back together. I think he needed the boys to be behind him again, to feel that strength from them.
‘Because obviously, they were his brothers.’
Tom was given just 12 months to live when he was first diagnosed with cancer and passed away on March 30, after getting the chance to perform again with his bandmates Max George, Nathan Sykes, Jay McGuiness and Siva Kaneswaran.
‘He loved music’: Kelsey told host Kate Thornton that the singer – who passed away from state four glioblastoma brain cancer at the age of 33 – ‘needed that band to get back together’
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