Avenged Sevenfold are down one of their core members for a few shows. In a new message, bassist Johnny Christ has revealed he's stepped away from the group for a handful of performances, but he's got a very good reason. The musician just became a father.

In a posting to fans, Christ revealed that he's taking a short break from the road to be with his wife and newborn child and unfortunately is missing some of the band's dates in Germany while he's with his family. However, the break is short-lived as he expects to return to the band later this week. In the interim, the band is utilizing their techs to fill the void.

Johnny's posting on the matter reads as follows:

Hello to all the fans out there, I wanted to share the news with you all that my wife and I recently added a new addition to the A7X family, Franklin James. Unfortunately because of this exciting announcement I have had to stay back and miss a couple of shows in one of my favorite countries, Germany. We have one of our amazing techs filling in so the shows can go on. I’ll be catching back up with you guys in Berlin on Feb. 15th. Can’t wait to see you all, thanks for everyone’s support.
– Daddy Christ

Avenged Sevenfold are currently touring Europe with Disturbed and Chevelle, with shows booked until March 10 before there's a break. They also have a handful of U.S. dates on the schedule for later in the year. See all of their scheduled stops here.

Our congrats to Johnny Christ, his wife and newborn son, as well as the extended Avenged Sevenfold family!

Avenged Sevenfold Albums Ranked

10 Unforgettable Johnny Christ Moments

More From Rock 108