Alice drummer forced off tour

Playing in pain: Glen Sobel

Alice Cooper drummer Glen Sobel has been forced off the road with a persistent neck injury, meaning he’ll miss some of the band’s support tour with Iron Maiden.

Meanwhile, Slipknot guitarist Jim Root and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante have also been sidelined with their own health problems.

Sobel had been trying to deal with his condition using painkillers but finally realised he needed treatment. He says: “I’ve played the last several shows on pain meds. We’ve had some of the best shows with Iron Maiden so I wanted to do everything I could to stay in the game. I need to have this treated then return to finish our tour days. In the meantime my main man Jonathan Mover, an Alice band alumni himself, will be covering for me. I’ll be back sooner than later.”

Cooper adds: “Glen has been playing the shows in a lot of pain. He need to take a short break but we’re looking forward to having him back soon. Luckily for us – and for you – Jonathan was available to help out at short notice.”

Meanwhile, Root and Benante will miss the opening dates on the Mayhem US touring festival.

The Slipknot man is awaiting surgery after his appendix burst. The band say: “Jim has been seriously sick for the past two weeks. It could have been life-threatening. He hopes to join the tour as soon as he is able. Slipknot will continue to headline the Mayhem festival – we refuse to let out fans down and will not miss a single date.”

Benante has been ordered to rest after sustaining a minor hand injury. He’s replaced for the Mayhem dates by Jason Bittner of Shadows Fall, who stood in for him on two shows in 2006.