Five Finger Death Punch announced Monday it is cancelling several shows – including some on the Metallica tour – to give frontman Ivan Moody time to recover from hernia surgery.
“Ivan went to the emergency room a few days ago with some complications from his recent hernia surgery,” read a statement on the band’s website. “While he is in the best possible medical care, his doctors have advised he must not perform any strenuous activity until, at the minimum, June 12, 2023.”
The cancellations include their opening slots at Metallica concerts on Wednesday in Paris and on May 28 in Hamburg (they have been replaced by Epica) as well as a set at the Download Festival in England on June 8 and concerts in Luxembourg, Stockholm, Slovakia and Czechia.
Five Finger Death Punch pulled out of Metallica’s show late last month in Amsterdam due to Moody’s injury. In a message to fans on Facebook at the time, the band promised to perform “ALL subsequent scheduled dates.”
Moody explained in an April 25 video message that he “felt something pop” while “jumping around a little bit” during a video shoot. A doctor later told him he had three hernias and recommended immediate surgery.
“I thought it would have been easy, however having all three done at the same time was a shock to my system to say the least,” he said. “My body didn’t take it as well as I thought it would, so here I am, not working.”
In its statement on Monday, the band said Moody “is being followed closely by his medical team who will continue to monitor his progress and will advise as to when he can return to performing.”
Five Finger Death Punch is scheduled to perform in Montreal at Metallica’s show on Aug. 13.