Word is out that Megadeth and Lamb of God won’t be touring together in the US. That’s a bummer, for sure, but we nearly lost Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe two nights ago. Before the two bands kicked off their short run of tour dates in Europe, Blythe got jumped in Dublin, Ireland. It happened around midnight near his hotel, while he was out taking photos.

Said Blythe via Instagram:

“I looked up & saw 5 or 6 teenage dudes (16 to 18 year olds?) in hoodies & track pants spreading out around me. “Well, crap, I guess it’s on” I thought. I started stepping quickly into the street away from the little cul-de-sac where I was (it was a bad spot to be trapped), trying to keep my eye on all of them at the same time. One kid drew up to my left getting close & BLAM- someone else hit me in the head from behind with something (I think they had a stick or whatever)- I saw stars for a second, then I heard car horns & a cabbie was driving at these kids & I was standing in the street trying to shake it off, because that little fucker had rang my bell pretty good. Like all cowards & weaklings all over the world, they came at me in numbers and struck from behind. I never even had a chance to smash one of the little shits because the cabbie (thank you, whoever you are) scattered them while I was regaining my wits.”

Thankfully Blythe wasn’t robbed of anything (“They didn’t even try to rob me,” Blythe wrote, “they just wanted to hurt someone”), and they’ve got the day off today before playing Glasgow U.K. tomorrow. Blythe gets to rest up for the remainder of their tour, which will then continue without Megadeth into this month with Children of Bodom and Sylosis.

Sometimes doing what you love comes at a price: here’s the Samuel Beckett bridge in Dublin, Ireland. Last night around midnight I walked one block away from my hotel to take some long exposures- right after I shot this very frame, I looked up & saw 5 or 6 teenage dudes (16 to 18 year olds?) in hoodies & track pants spreading out around me. “Well, crap, I guess it’s on” I thought. I started stepping quickly into the street away from the little cul-de-sac where I was (it was a bad spot to be trapped), trying to keep my eye on all of them at the same time. One kid drew up to my left getting close & BLAM- someone else hit me in the head from behind with something (I think they had a stick or whatever)- I saw stars for a second, then I heard car horns & a cabbie was driving at these kids & I was standing in the street trying to shake it off, because that little fucker had rang my bell pretty good. Like all cowards & weaklings all over the world, they came at me in numbers and struck from behind. I never even had a chance to smash one of the little shits because the cabbie (thank you, whoever you are) scattered them while I was regaining my wits. So now my glasses are gone (but I have contacts), my new Surf City hat w/the Black Flag bars is gone (but I brought another hat), my new e-cig is gone (but I have others), & I have a split open elbow & a bit of a headache (but it could have been much, much worse- I could have caught a knife). I remain grateful- I’M FINE. I’ve been in some of the sketchiest neighborhoods on earth & escaped unharmed, but last night I got distracted & forgot my street smarts for a couple of minutes. That was very, VERY stupid of me, & I paid the price. So lesson learned here is STAY ALERT, y’all. And Dublin- I still love you, I’m NOT afraid to come here, it’s a lovely city, BUT… please neuter & spay your feral children, because next time they might club someone whose head isn’t as hard as mine & kill them. They didn’t even try to rob me, they just wanted to hurt someone, anyone – it was nothing personal for them- this makes me very SAD for these children. So Dublin, sorry if tonight’s show was a little rough- I did my best for y’all…

A photo posted by D. Randall Blythe (@drandallblythe) on Nov 9, 2015 at 2:44pm PST

(via ThePRP)