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Slayer Frontman Tom Araya Hospitalized in Sydney

Band forced to cancel Soundwave festival appearance while singer recovers from unknown ailment

February 28, 2011 3:05 PM ET
Tom Araya of Slayer
Tom Araya of Slayer
Larry Marano/Getty

Slayer frontman Tom Araya was hospitalized yesterday in Sydney, Australia, forcing the band to cancel their headlining slot in the Soundwave festival that evening. The audience at the festival were told that Araya was taken to the hospital shortly after arriving at the venue and had been ordered to remain there by doctors.

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No details about Araya's ailment have been released, but festival promoter A.J. Maddah told reporters that he would be able to perform at the next Soundwave event in Melbourne on Saturday.

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Araya isn't the first Slayer member to be sidelined during the band's current tour. Guitarist Jeff Hanneman had to bow out of the band's Australian touring commitments to recover from surgery on his right arm after being bitten by a spider and contracting the skin-destroying disease necrotising fasciitis.

Headliners Slayer cancel Soundwave show [Sydney Morning Herald]

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