Metallica cancel Swedish concert

Hetfield caught a stomach bug Sunday and suffered dehydration

US metal band Metallica were forced to call off a concert in Stockholm, Sweden at the weekend after the band's lead singer James Hetfield fell ill.

According to a spokeswoman, Hetfield caught a stomach bug on Sunday and suffered dehydration that forced the band to tell 16,000 fans to go home.

Drummer Lars Ulrich said the band members were "truly, truly, sorry".

Hetfield received medical attention at hospital but was well enough to return to the US with the band that evening.

"We apologise to all our fans who travelled from near and far and we look forward to coming back soon," said the band on their website.

European tour

It said the concert would be rescheduled "sometime this spring".

Fans at the Stockholm Globe Arena only found out about the cancellation minutes before the gig was scheduled to start.

"Trust me, none of you guys want to hear me, Rob or Kirk sing," said Ulrich, referring to bassist Robert Trujillo and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett.

The band did perform in Stockholm on Saturday before Hetfield, 43, fell ill.

Metallica recently began a European tour that will see them play in Birmingham, Glasgow and London later this month.