Detroit rap duo Insane Clown Posse is getting ready to plan a farewell tour after revealing one of its founding members is suffering from a heart condition.
During the Gathering of the Juggalos over the weekend at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, Violent J announced that he was recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular and often rapid heart rate. As a result, ICP is counting down their final cases of Faygo and retiring from touring.
Violent J, whose real name is Joseph Bruce, told the crowd that in order for him to live his best life, the group can't do things the way they used to.
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"It's very embarrassing and very not cool to have to say you're taking a step backward," Violent J said. "This don't mean anything, that I'm going to die or anything like that... basically we can't do things the way we used to do them."
The 49-year-old went on to say his doctors wanted him to stop doing live shows, but that's just not in his blood. So, he and partner Shaggy 2 Dope came to a compromise.
Before scaling back their concert activity completely, ICP is going to take the Dark Carnival worldwide on a farewell tour next year with dates across the U.S. Europe, Canada and Australia. Violent J said the group will be performing three or four shows a week during the "slow tour."
"There's really no way around it, we can't really tour no more the way we were touring," Violent J continued. "It's not a very wise move to get out and play six nights a week with that situation."
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The good news for Juggalos is that the farewell tour won't be the end of ICP's performing career. Violent J said the duo plans to play at least one live show a month, and will still hold annual events like the Hallowicked and Big Ballas Christmas shows, and of course the Gathering of the Juggalos.
Violent J said he's not dropping the mic, either, and that fans can still expect fresh new tracks as ICP is "ready to f--king kick ass in the studio."
"Without touring, that absolutely means we're going to put out much more music," he added. "Making music is not affected in any way, shape or form by anything going on with Shaggy or myself, health-wise."
Shaggy, who let Violent J do most of the talking, added, "Basically, it's a straight up f--king case of roll until the wheels fall off in this b-tch."
The group, which formed in 1989, said they've been performing two tours a year for the past 25 years.
"All that being said, we just want everyone to know that we're still going to come to your town, eventually," Violent J said.
"The last 30 years were just a warmup," Shaggy added.
After all, the Wicked Clowns will never die.
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