Bowling for Soup legend Jaret Reddick has opened up on his own health battles after his bandmate Chris Burney was forced to retire earlier this year. The pop punk four-piece transitioned to a three-piece after Chris underwent an amputation of two toes after battling sciatica-inspired neuropathy – and Jaret admitted Chris is irreplaceable. 

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Jaret admitted that the physicality of performing has changed since the band was founded in 1994. He said: “It’s funny – the first thing that happened was I started tearing my knees. Back in, like, 2003, I had my first torn meniscus, and then I tore it again a few years later, and then I tore the other one.

“So I’ve had three knee surgeries. I remember the doctor telling me a really long time ago, ‘We really need to get away from the jumping off things and get to more of a Mick Jagger prance’. So it’s been gradual. I had to stop jumping off the kick drum.

“I think your body just kind of tells you what to do. I’ve gained some weight over the last 10 years, and that kind of slowed me down a little bit. And my knees and my back are sort of telling me [it’s time].”

Jaret explained: “Luckily for me, when Chris retired, it pretty much tied me to my microphone, because now I’m doing all the guitar and I’ve got to be there to sing too.

“So I can’t really move around nearly as much as I used to anyway. So even if I have slowed down, I can sort of use that as an excuse!”

Speaking about Chris after his medical episode, Jaret said he is “okay” and “happy”, explaining: “He seems to be doing great. I always tell everybody, if he’s posting pictures of himself shirtless and of his dog’s butt on Instagram, he’s having a good day.

“But when Chris left, we lost not only a personality but a full on instrument. So I miss him in several ways.” 

Next year, Bowling for Soup are heading on tour with folk punk band Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. Tickets are on sale now for the Bowl My Bones tour.