US Heavy Metal Band Metallica Postpones Concert After Frontman Tests Positive for Covid-19
Metallica, the iconic heavy metal band, has announced that they are postponing their September 3 concert in Phoenix, Arizona, after lead vocalist James Hetfield tested positive for Covid-19. The band shared the news on their official Twitter account.
“We’re very sorry to report that tomorrow’s scheduled M72 date at State Farm Stadium has been postponed to Saturday, September 9, 2023, as, unfortunately, Covid has caught up with James,” Metallica stated in their tweet.
The band expressed their disappointment and apologized for any inconvenience caused. They assured fans that they look forward to returning to complete the M72 No Repeat Weekend in Glendale the following Saturday.
Originally, the September 3 show was planned to be the last of two concerts in Glendale as part of Metallica’s M72 tour, where they are performing two shows in each city.
Tickets for the postponed concert will be honored on September 9, according to the band.
The decision to postpone the concert comes amidst a rise in Covid-19 cases in the US this summer. The country is currently facing the new EG.5 variant, which is a spinoff of the XBB recombinant strain of the Omicron family. The variant is driving most new infections, as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although the severity of cases remains relatively low compared to the start of the pandemic, medical experts warn that there may be more infections than current surveillance systems can capture and caution about the possibility of a resurgence of the virus.
Metallica’s announcement serves as a reminder that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact various aspects of daily life, including the entertainment industry. Fans are urged to stay updated about any changes in concert schedules and follow health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.