On August 28, the day before Pennsylvania hardcore heroes Breaking Benjamin were set to hit the road with Three Days Grace, the band made a shocking announcement that drummer Shaun Foist would be stepping down from the tour due to health concerns.
Foist, who has been drumming professionally for over 20 years, shared in an Instagram post that he has been battling Hashimoto’s disease for years. Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition that can cause the thyroid gland to become both underactive and, rarely, overactive, with each state of function causing potentially debilitating symptoms.
Foist shared:
“Friends, family, and most importantly, the fans- I’ve been battling Hashimoto’s disease since 2017, facing fatigue, leg weakness, stiffness, weight changes, and overall drum playing control issues. During the Awake The Fallen Tour, I was experiencing extreme leg fatigue and complications, making drumming nearly impossible. We ran tests on my back that came back fine, thankfully, but tests confirmed Hashimoto’s had flared, pushing my thyroid into “hyper” mode, causing weakness and weight loss. After speaking with my family and doctors, I have decided to step away from the road at this time to focus on healing. Please continue supporting the band and enjoying the shows. I care deeply about our legacy, and don’t want my health to affect our performances. Thank you for the years of love and support. I will drum again.”
James Cassells of Asking Alexandria is filling in for Foist for the tour. His bandmates and fans have shown great love and compassion, wishing Foist the very best on his healing journey, and welcoming Cassells to the team with open arms.
Tickets to see Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace on this tour are available here.
