Blackie Lawless has been suffering from a herniated disc in his lower back during the European Leg of the W.A.S.P 40th Anniversary Tour. This has caused some shows to be shortened as the pain was unbearable and some shows to be cancelled.
This morning, Blackie released a statement saying the European Leg will be completed “come hell or high water.” Under doctor’s orders, the remaining shows will experience Blackie seated in a new version of Elvis.
“As many of you already know, I had a serious setback at the hands of a very unqualified Doctor here in Europe about two weeks into the tour,” Blackie said in a statement. “I’ve been receiving treatment at a hospital in Berlin, and that team of Doctors has been nothing short of fantastic.
“But, at the same time, they strongly advised me to stop the tour and go back to L.A. and begin my rehab. But it’s hard for them to understand this is the only 40th Anniversary I’m ever going to get, not to mention the fans that have stood by us this entire time have waited over three years, and because of the pandemic, suffered three different sets of tour postponements.
“I go back to Berlin on Friday for two days for more treatments which means both the shows in Italy will be missed. At the start, the Doctors there told me without rest and rehab I would definitely get worse. As hard as I’ve pushed through these shows, they were right.
“The show last night in Zurich was cut short by two songs, and I do apologize for that, but the pain reached a point where I could no longer perform, and it lasted throughout the entire show. My legs were giving out on me, and it got dangerous.
“I will not be able to stand to do the remaining five shows, so the compromise I reached with the Doctors was if I would stay seated, in a chair to do these last five then they will give me clearance to finish the tour and do those remaining five shows.
“I’ve never done this before, but please understand, my intention is to finish this tour, come hell or high water, and give this incredibly dedicated fan base that has been with us from the beginning, the show they have all heard about.
“Plus, we’re going to build the chair into ‘Elvis’. Hey, he’s been with us the whole time, and he will finish this tour right beside me because he’s basically one of the Band.
“But, as frustrating as this all has been, I can’t wait to get into rehab, and then destroy America…. Again, on the 2nd, and final leg of the 40th Anniversary World Tour!! We are Coming Back….and we’re Coming to Hurt Somebody!!”
