Alice In Chains was forced to cancel a series of performances this May, including appearances at major festivals Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple , after drummer Sean Kinney was diagnosed with a "non-life-threatening medical condition." Now, the musician has broken his silence to update fans on his health and explain the reasons behind the decision.
In a heartfelt and humorous post on the band's social media on Wednesday, the 15th, Kinney began by thanking fans for their understanding:
"To everyone who was at the Mohegan Sun or had tickets for the other events, thank you for your support. We know you spend money, make plans, and change your routines to see us, and it's frustrating to have to cancel," he wrote.
The drummer, known for keeping his personal life out of the media spotlight, admitted that he doesn't like to share details about his health, but acknowledged the concern of his fans. He then shared his emotional process upon receiving the medical recommendation to temporarily refrain from playing, comparing it to the "5 Stages of Grief":
Negation ("I'm fine!")
Anger ("Screw it, I'm going to play anyway!")
Bargaining (“What is needed for the diagnosis to improve?”)
Depression ("This sucks!")
Acceptance ("It sucks, but okay!")
In his characteristic dry-witted tone, Kinney joked:
"In the end, I realized that doctors with diplomas on the wall know more about health than a musician with gold records hanging on their wall."
He then concluded with an ironic remark:
"The good news? I'm going to be okay and I'm going to live. The bad news (for some of you?) is that I'm going to be okay and I'm going to live."
Alice in Chains returns for a Black Sabbath tribute.
Alice In Chains' next performance is scheduled for July 13th, at the exciting Back To The Beginning Black Sabbath 's official farewell .
The event in Birmingham will reunite the classic Sabbath lineup ( Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler and Bill Ward ) on the same stage for the first time in 19 years.
Furthermore, the tribute lineup is packed with rock stars, featuring appearances by Metallica, Pantera, Anthrax, Guns N' Roses, Tool, Gojira, Mastodon, and other legends. The night will also mark Ozzy Osbourne's final solo show , bringing an era of music to a close.
READ ALSO: Alice in Chains cancels all May shows due to Sean Kinney's health.
