High On Fire Cancel Tour, Frontman Enters Rehab

American metal masters High On Fire have withdrawn from this year's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival in the US as frontman and guitarist Matt Pike checks into alcohol rehabilitation.

The band issued a statement this morning, Australian time, announcing the cancellation and stating that they were now putting touring plans on hold indefinitely. The tour, which also features Slipknot, Slayer, Motörhead and Anthrax among others, starts at the end of this month and runs all through July, the 26-date tour finishing up at the beginning of August.

“We regretfully will have to bow out as our friend and bandmate begins his recovery, but very much appreciate having been asked to be a part of this summer's festival run,” the statement said.

Pike was also a member of the much revered Sleep who split after eight years together in 1998, after which Pike went on to form High On Fire. The band released their seventh album De Vermis Mysteriis to enormous critical acclaim in April.