Green Day cancels 2012 dates, postpones 2013 tour

Green Day has canceled the rest of its North American club tour dates for this year and postponed appearances scheduled for January and February 2013 as frontman Billie Joe Armstrong continues treatment for substance abuse issues, the band announced Monday.

“Obviously, the timing for this isn’t ideal, but Billie Joe’s well-being is our main concern,” bassist Mike Dirnt said in a statement. “We are happy to say that Billie Joe is doing well, and we want to thank you all for the outpouring of support and well wishes that we have received, and we can’t wait to see you all again soon.”

Armstrong headed to rehab just days after an expletive-laden meltdown during a show at Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas in September. Promotion for the band’s ambitious trilogy of albums had just heated up.

PHOTOS: Unfortunately timed meltdowns

Tickets for the canceled club shows will be refunded at point of purchase, and new dates for the postponed January and February gigs will be announced shortly. Previously purchased tickets will be honored on the new dates.

The band was also supposed to headline New Orleans’ Voodoo Music Experience on Saturday. Metallica stepped in for Green Day and paid tribute by performing “American Idiot.”

With Armstrong working on his sobriety, the band has decided to move up the release date for “¡Tré!,” the final installment of its trilogy. Initially planned to hit stores Jan. 15, the disc will now arrive Dec. 11.

“We feel bad we have to delay our tour, so to make up for it we want to give our fans the music earlier than we had planned,” drummer Tré Cool added in the statement. “If we couldn’t be there to play it for you live, the least we could do was give you the next best thing.”

The second installment of Green Day’s trilogy, “¡Dos!,” is still scheduled to be released on Nov. 9.

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