Guitar and keyboard virtuoso Tony MacAlpine, who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, has checked in with a new update:

"Fans in Mexico! Please share! It's recently come to our attention that the guitars stolen from Tony in Austin on June 11 last year have shown up in San José Iturbide Guanajuato, Mexico. We have not had luck contacting the seller, however Tony would like the guitars back. Here are the guitars that were stolen:

- his black Ibanez Guitars custom 7-string with EMG Pickups installed (serial LA071509);
- his white Ibanez 7-string with black EMG 707 pickups (serial LA0168);
- Also stolen were a Peavy EVH sunburst, a white Carvin 7-string; plus Tony's pedalboard

We now have the full name, address and phone number of the person attempting to sell Tony's guitars. Thank you to the multiple people who all confirmed the seller's identity. We will work with local authorities and attempt to recover the instruments, but we may need assistance from locals in the San Jose Iturbide area to help us liaise with police. Stay tuned..."

Go to MacAlpine's official Facebook page here for pictures of the stolen gear and updates.

On December 12th, 2015 the Benefit For Tony MacAlpine took place at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles and featured performances from John 5 & The Creatures, Zakk Wylde with Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian; Steve Vai and band, Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt and culminating in an all-star jam with house band Portnoy, Sheehan, Sherinian, and featuring special guests.

Check out extensive video from the show below:

MacAlpine checked in with following update on his health recently:

"Hello my friends,

It has been a while since I have had the energy to write, so I will take this time to give you an update of sorts, a small window into some of my daily activities at this point.

Two months after my surgery on August 28th, I have been strictly following the course of these excellent Doctors of Medicine, and progress is being achieved at a rate they as well as I am encouraged by. It is a difficult routine that I must endure for many more months that involves a very intense series of drug therapies and constant analytical procedures that are overwhelmingly draining because of their brutal side effects, but my eyes and heart are on the big picture, which is recovery.

More often than not the biggest hurdle is knowing that after you engage yourself in this fight - this battle on a weekly schedule - you still must reserve some energy to think positive, as that is a very important and necessary mechanic in this healing process.

Your prayers, messages and positive energy are not going unnoticed, and although I have quite a long road ahead, it is not traveled alone, as I have all of you there for support. And I thank you all for that!

I will touch base and give you further updates soon."

Photo by Alex Solca