Hatebreed Guitarist Wayne Lozinak Forced to Leave Tour Following Brain Tumor Diagnosis
In a bit of news that no one wants to hear, Hatebreed guitarist Wayne Lozinak is stepping down from the band’s touring commitments after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor over the weekend.
According to a statement from the band, the health issue was discovered after their performance at Download Festival this past Saturday. Lozniak apparently began experiencing symptoms that people around him worried were the signs of a potential stroke when he sought medical attention while in Lilles, France. Once in their care, doctors discovered a benign meningioma. In layman’s terms, that’s a tumor that grows very slowly over time, often taking years before symptoms begin to emerge.
In response to the diagnosis, he’s gone back to the U.S. to undergo surgery, receive treatment, and recover.
Despite Lozniak’s absence, the band will forge ahead with their touring commitments. Shadows Fall’s Matt Bachand, who currently handles bass duties for Hatebreed’s live shows, will be filling in for Lozniak, while First Blood’s Carl Schwartz will step up to play bass.
The band issued the following statement on the situation:
“Send @waynelozinak some love!
“On the night of June 14th, while at Download Festival, Wayne began experiencing mild symptoms that raised concerns of a possible stroke. Out of an abundance of caution, he sought medical attention the following day upon arriving in Lille, France. After undergoing a CT scan at the ER, doctors discovered a brain tumor, leading to his immediate admission for further testing.
“Following a thorough 24-hour evaluation, including an MRI, it was determined that the tumor is a benign meningioma—a slow-growing mass that has likely been present for years. We are immensely relieved that Wayne’s diagnosis is the best possible outcome given the circumstances.
“Wayne will be returning to the U.S. to prepare for surgery and focus on rest and recovery. His strength and resilience remain unwavering, and he is determined to return to Hatebreed as soon as he is able. We appreciate all the love and support from fans, friends, and the music community during this time.
“Further updates will be shared as appropriate. Thank you for respecting Wayne’s privacy as he begins this journey toward full health.
“@mattbachandmusic will be taking over touring guitar duties while bass will now be handled by Karl @firstbloodrules see you in the pit!”
We at MetalSucks send our best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery to Lozniak. Here’s to him getting back on stage as soon as he can once he’s back to 100%.
