Metallica announced they had to stop the world tour due to the alcohol dependence of singer James Hetfield. In a note published on the group’s social pages, the other three members explain that “our brother James struggles and struggled with his addiction to and for many years. Now unfortunately he had to return to a treatment program to work on his healing“.

The announcement of Hetfield’s admission comes precisely on the anniversary of the death of Cliff Burton, bassist of Metallica from 1982 to 1986.