OAKLAND, CA (CelebrityAccess) — Just days before they were slated to hit the road, Oakland-based stoner metal band High On Fire announced they were canceling their “Electric Messiah Tour” due to health issues.
In a post to the band’s Facebook page, frontman Matt Pike explained that the band’s plans for the tour were affected by his battle with diabetes.
The tour, which was sponsored by Revolver Magazine, was scheduled to start on Jan. 10th at the Masquerade in Atlanta, and run through the month before winding up on February 1st at the House of Blues in New Orleans.
Year of the Cobra and Toke were lined up to provide support on the run.
High on Fire was touring in support of their eighth studio album Electric Messiah which they released last October.
“To my brothers, my crew, and anyone else this affects. I do apologize for the inconvenience of this cancelation. I feel as though I’m explaining lightning striking twice. I wanted nothing more in the world to play these songs live, nor ever cancel something I say I’m gonna do,” Pike wrote on Facebook.
“I am a warrior for our art, and have endured some painful things to what we do. The timing and repeating nature of this is my nightmare and almost impossible. Nevertheless, to save yet another toe, my big one, I have been grounded by circumstances out of my control. I will have more of a medical report to come but right now I’m at great risk of losing it, and/or a bigger portion of my foot due to Diabetes. Which I have been managing very well,” Pike added.
“It just shows how this disease can affect our lives. Please forgive me, and if you know anything about me, you know this is not like me. We will be back!”
The current tour isn’t the first time Pike’s health has impacted the band’s tour schedule. In 2012, the group was forced to pull out of a slot on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival touring festival while Pike entered rehab for alcohol addiction.
And last fall, the band had to pull out of a double-headline tour with Municipal Waste while Pike underwent treatment for diabetes.
