HINDER Wanted 'American Idol' Singer To Replace Frontman

According to The Pulse Of Radio, HINDER apparently wanted "American Idol" season seven winner David Cook to fill in temporarily for frontman Austin Winkler, who recently left the group's current tour for "personal reasons" — although it is now confirmed that Winkler has entered rehab. HINDER manager Kevin "Chief" Zaruk told The Hollywood Reporter, "David Cook was at the top of our list." He added that season 10's James Durbin was also in the running, saying, "We would've loved to have either, but the timing didn't work out."

Cook turned down the offer in order to continue to work on his own music, but was said to have been "very interested" in the gig.

Zaruk also confirmed that Winkler had entered rehab for the second time in his career, saying, "We just want him to get healthy and get happy."

Filling in on most of the band's upcoming tour dates will be SAVING ABEL's Jared Weeks, with a few shows to feature DRANKMORE's Marshal Dutton.

HINDER is on the road in support of its fourth studio album, 2012's "Welcome To The Freakshow", and next plays in Turlock, California on Tuesday (July 16).

Winkler told Billboard on that a "really dark drug binge" fueled much of his songwriting on "Welcome To The Freakshow". The singer explained to The Pulse Of Radio what his state of mind was during this tough period. "I was in a very, very, very dark addiction, and you can kind of hear the turmoil in my voice and stuff like that," he said. "And, you know, as soon as we got the record done I went into treatment to get help, and it's interesting to go back and listen to it now."

Winkler told Billboard that he entered rehab as soon as the record was finished. The album follows 2010's "All American Nightmare".

The first single, "Save Me", touches on Winkler's struggle, with him saying, "I had a really nasty attitude in that song, but I had a blast singing and recording it. I think it's our heaviest single yet, and we're getting a pretty good response."