Metallica has posponed its upcoming tour as James Hetfield addresses his addiction issues.
The band announced Friday it would not play its Australia and New Zealand dates as its frontman / guitarist “had to re-enter a treatment program to work on his recovery again.”
“As most of you probably know, our brother James has been struggling with addiction on and off for many years,” Metallica said in a statement.
Once again, we are devastated that we have inconvenienced so many of you, especially our most loyal fans who travel great distances to experience our shows. We appreciate your understanding and support for James & thank you for being a part of our Metallica family.
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— Metallica (@Metallica) September 28, 2019
All tickets purchased to the canceled shows would be fully refunded, the band said.
Metallica played the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sept. 8 and were due to play its next show in Perth, Australia on Oct. 17.
Hetfield’s previous battles with addiction were shown on the band’s documentary “Some Kind of Monster,” detailing the production and struggles of their 2003 album “St. Anger.”
Next year’s shows have not been addressed by the band. Metallica has a March 28 benefit show in San Francisco and a handful of South America dates scheduled for 2020.
