Slipknot cancel Asian tour, including Knotfest Japan, due to coronavirus
Iowan masked metallers Slipknot are the latest band to axe their tour due to coronavirus fears.
Following in the footsteps of The Pixies, Green Day, Lacuna Coil and Behemoth, who have all axed tours in recent weeks, Slipknot have released a statement on social media confirming they are regrettably postponing their Asian tour dates later this month.
Corey Taylor and co. were due to headline their festival Knotfest Japan on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March in Tokyo before playing Singapore Rockfest (Tuesday 24th March), Hammersonic Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia (Friday 27th March) and Manila Amoranto Stadium (Sunday 29th March).
Announcing the tour postponement, Skipknot said: "In light of global health concerns, Slipknot have decided to postpone their upcoming Asian tour, including Knotfest Japan.
"While decisions like this are not easy, the safety and well-being of the band's fans always comes first. Furthermore, in this case, the bands and artists, crew and local employees are also equally effected, and as such, this was the only responsible decision that could be made.
"Slipknot and Knotfest will both return to Asia very soon. And at such time that everyone can be ensured of the best experience possible."
As of 5th March 2020, over 95,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across the globe and there have been over 3,200 deaths.
Later this summer, Slipknot set sail on the four-day Knotfest At Sea cruise from Barcelona to Naples, Italy on Monday 10th August. Anthrax, Behemoth, Devildriver, Sevendust, Skindred, Ho99o9, Higher Power and Sleep Token are the first wave of artists on the bill.
Following this, Slipknot will head to The National Bowl in Milton Keynes on Saturday 22nd August 2020 for the very first Knotfest UK.
Slipknot's sixth studio album 'We Are Not Your Kind' was released last August and stormed to number one on the UK album chart.
It was the first heavy metal album to reach the summit since Iron Maiden’s ‘The Book of Souls’ back in September 2015 and only the fifth metal chart topper this decade.
See Slipknot at the following show this summer:
AUGUST 2020
Knotfest, The National Bowl, Milton Keynes – Sat 22nd