Looks like High On Fire aren’t the only ones missing Mayhem Fest this Summer. This past weekend, two bands set to appear on the bill revealed that they would be performing a handful of dates without key members.
First up is Slipknot, who revealed that guitarist Jim Root will be forced to miss most of Mayhem Fest due to a burst appendix. Rather ironic considering that his bandmate Joey Jordison was forced to miss shows three years ago also due to a burst appendix. Slipknot released the following statement:
“We’re sorry to announce that our brother, Jim Root, will not be performing with us at Mayhem today in San Bernardino due to serious health issues. Jim has been seriously sick for the past two weeks and went to the hospital last week where he was advised that his appendix burst a couple weeks before and that it could have been life threatening. Jim is at home recovering and is awaiting surgery to have pieces of his appendix removed and hopes to join the tour as soon as he is able. Slipknot will continue to headline the Mayhem Festival and all other shows. We refuse to let our fans down and will not miss a single date. We will miss Jim greatly and our thoughts are with him. Jim sends his love to each and every one of our fans.”
Meanwhile, Anthrax also revealed this past weekend that drummer Charlie Benante would be missing the first few weeks of the tour while recovering from a minor hand injury. Filling in for Benante will be Shadows Fall’s Jason Bittner, who filled in for Anthrax back in February after Benante’s mother passed away.
While it’s a shame to hear that both Benante and Root will be absent from a good chunk of Mayhem Fest, at least Slipknot and Anthrax are able to still perform. Slipknot performing onstage as a seven piece is something that most fans have never seen before, though (Donnie Steele plays bass for the band, but offstage). Here’s hoping that both Root and Benante have speedy recoveries.
