While most bands are canceling, rescheduling or postponing their tours until further notice, Shinedown says that they are planning as if they are hitting the road this summer on their summer trek saying “We are not afraid to play for you.” The band has already been forced to postpone their Spring North American ‘Deep Dive Tour’ due to the ongoing global health crisis, but have since rescheduled the date for summer, which they are planning to move forward with.
In a new interview with Jose Mangin for Zippo Live, Shinedown frontman Brent Smith explained that the band is still planning and hoping to get on the road this summer for the rescheduled dates.
“We are supposed to be on tour right now doing that tour, interspersed with headlining some festivals,” explained Smith. “We rescheduled the tour for August and September, actually, the very first show is rescheduled for July 31st in Victoria, in Canada, but as of right now, that’s all a go. So we’re not backing off of that rescheduled timeline.”
Smith continued to explain that safety is their first priority but they also want fans to know that they are not afraid to play for them.
“Obviously, our number one priority is the safety of the public, but we also want the public to know something from us to all of them out there: we are not afraid to play for you. We wanna do everything safely and we wanna go by the professionals in the medical community and what we’re gonna need to do, but you can’t stay inside forever. Your immune system and everything about this virus, I want people to understand this, is that if you shelter at home for too long, it’s going to deplete your immune system.”
“Obviously, people that are older, if they have pre-existing conditions or they have a compromised immune system, yes, we need to be extremely diligent with them and make sure that they’re safe,” Smith continued to elaborate to Mangin during Zippo Live Interview. “But for people that don’t have compromised immune systems, not being around people right now and not being back at work, that’s actually hindering your immune system. We have to get back out safely.”
“We are doing everything in our power to make sure that when it is time for us to be able to do shows again, we want everybody to know when you come to a Shinedown show, you are coming to a safe environment,” Smith added. “We would never put anyone’s health at risk. But that being said, you’ve got to maintain a level of, being healthy is also working out, eating right, taking certain supplements to help boost your immune system.”
He ended with the motivational quote of, “Don’t be paralyzed by fear. You can’t allow that to happen, because then this invisible virus, however you wanna put it, then it begins to win. And we can’t allow that.”
Smith has since went on to release a statement to clear up a misunderstanding of what was said: “I’d like to clear up any misunderstanding about our touring plans that may be out there as some of my comments were a little misconstrued recently in the midst of trying to stay positive in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’d like you all to know that while we can’t wait to play for you and see all of you on the road again, we will only do so when it’s safe. The health and wellness of our fans is what’s most important and something we take very seriously. We’ll be ready to perform for you when the time is right, and in the meantime, I encourage everyone to take this time to focus on staying healthy mind, body, and spirit, so that when we are able to come back together, we are all the better for this time apart. Stay strong and optimistic – we will get through this together. Onward and upwards we all rise together.”
For a full list of upcoming Shinedown Tour Dates, CLICK HERE.
