Alice in Chains drummer shares health update following medical emergency
Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney has issued a health update after the band cancelled their tour due to him suffering a medical emergency.
The rock outfit had been scheduled to perform at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on May 8th, but cancelled shortly before stage time. They shared: “After our soundcheck this evening at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Sean experienced a non-life-threatening medical emergency.”
Then, Alice in Chains later revealed the entirety of their North American tour was cancelled, including stops Columbus’ Sonic Temple and Daytona Beach’s Welcome to Rockville festival.
The band told fans: “While we were all eager to return to the stage, Sean’s health is our top priority at this moment. Although the issue requires immediate attention, his long-term prognosis is positive.”
Now, for the first time, Kinney has directly addressed the situation. He began by writing: “Firstly, to everyone who came out to the Mohegan Sun show and was affected by the short-notice cancelation, and to everyone who had tickets to come see the band at one of the other shows, thanks for your understanding. It’s not lost on the band and myself that you spend money, make plans and alter your schedules to come and see us, and it’s deeply disappointing to have had this happen.”
Kinney then described the cancellation as a “difficult but necessary decision to make”. He also said he’s “not particularly fond of my health issues being made public”, but has been ordered by doctors not to play the drums in the short term, which he says has sent him into the five stages of grief.
The drummer, who has now reached the stage of acceptance, added, “I finally concluded that medical doctors with many hard-earned degrees on their walls might know a bit more about health than a musician with some shiny spray-painted records on his wall. The outpouring of love, concern, and well wishes has been both extremely humbling and very much appreciated.”
On a positive note, he concluded, “The good news is that I’m going to be fine and I’m going to live. The bad news (for some of you?( is that I’m going to be fine and I’m going to live.”
As it stands, Alice in Chains remain listed to perform at Villa Park for Black Sabbath’s farewell concert on July 5th, but it’s unclear whether Kinney will be involved.
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