HATEBREED's JAMEY JASTA Says JAMES HETFIELD Inspired Him To Get Sober

HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta says that he "would not have given up drinking if it wasn't for" James Hetfield and "the example he set."

Jasta made his comments after METALLICA's tour of Australia and New Zealand was called off so that Hetfield could enter rehab to battle his addictions. The trek was slated to kick off on October 17 in Perth and was to include over 10 dates, with SLIPKNOT in the support slot.

Jamey took to social media last night to address Hetfield's health issues and to commend the METALLICA guitarist/vocalist for confronting his struggles head-on.

"Just got off stage in TN and heard about @papa_het_ so I want to post a few things here in regards to addiction & counseling," Jasta wrote.

"I commend James for seeking help and I want to send my love & support to him, his family and the entire extended METALLICA camp. I hope that all #Metallica fans affected by this understand that this is absolutely the best choice. Health is EVERYTHING.

"No tour or album or mountain of obligations is worth diving back into the abyss of booze & drugs. Energy is real and if you're going to put it out either online or in person I ask that you please put out positive energy for James. Sure there are people who can cut loose every so often & bounce back but for others, even 1 drink can lead to decisions that snowball into a destructive avalanche.

"I've toured heavily for over 20+ years and would not have given up drinking if it wasn't for James and the example he set.

"I always said that booze was the 'dark river' that is always flowing and the current is too strong for me. I want to dive in, sometimes every day for weeks, but I don't and I can't.

"Meeting James at MTV and speaking with him about my drinking problem was very eye opening because this is a guy who is in one of the biggest bands in the world with so much pressure on him and so much weight to carry and he really made me think if he could quit so could I.

"Now I've stayed away from that river for well over a decade. I may not be 'as fun as I used to be' it might be hard for me to attend certain events or functions where people are plastered or going to be drunk but I know it's the best choice & I think that in the years ahead we're gonna find out that the booze companies have lied to and manipulated us. I think it's WAY worse than people realize but I will save that for another day…

"If you or anyone you know may be going through something similar, maybe James having the courage to confront his demons again can be the compass to point you in the right direction.

"No amount of booze, drugs, food, sex, gambling etc. will fill the hole inside that is eating at you & growing. Get help. Go to a meeting, look up free resources online. Take a step away from the dark river and don't look back."

The 56-year-old Hetfield has been open about his addiction and alcoholism. His struggles were detailed in the 2004 documentary "Some Kind Of Monster".

A couple of years ago, Hetfield said "fear was a big motivator" in inspiring him to get clean. At that time, he said he was sober for 15 years.