What Happened to Nuno Bettencourt? Extreme Guitarist Suffers Worrying Injury Before M3 Rock Festival

Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt sustained an injury that led to the cancelation of the band's appearance at the M3 Rock Festival.

Bettencourt had a fun day playing during the Rockers versus Average Joes' basketball game on the Monster of Rock 2023 Cruise, during which he - unfortunately - sustained a knee injury. He still pushed through with Extreme's MOR performance show Thursday while seated to meet their fans.

However, the same injury led the band to postpone its upcoming appearance at the M3 Rock Festival.

Nuno Bettencourt Sustains Injury

In a fan-taken video on YouTube, it can be seen that the guitarist suffers an injury while on the cruise during Tuesday's Rockers versus Average Joes' basketball game. He soon leaves the court in a wheelchair to have his injury treated.

Moments later, Bettencourt walks around again but on crutches.

Following the health issue, the M3 Rock Festival organizers released a statement regarding Extreme's decision not to perform during the two-day event at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. It added that the decision was made due to Bettencourt's severe knee injury.

The organizers also assured fans they would book another artist and issue a statement once they receive confirmation.

Extreme also released a separate statement through its Facebook page. Although it will not make it to the M3 Rock Festival, it confirmed that it would resume its shows at the Thicker Than Blood Tour this coming summer.

"We are seriously bummed out that we are unable to perform for everyone at the M3 Rock Festival as we've been looking forward to the festival for several months," the band wrote. "We apologize for the inconvenience to fans attending the festival."

Extreme To Release New Album

Amid the bad news, Extreme will offer a gift to fans as its new studio album, "Six," will be released soon.

The veteran hard-rock band's new project serves as its first album in 15 years, and it will be available on June 9 via earMUSIC. It will feature Gary Cherone on vocals, Pat Badger on bass, Kevin Figueiredo on drums, and Bettencourt on guitar.

"Musically, it's aggressive," Cherone said of the upcoming album, per Consequence." "Lyrically, it's a cautionary tale on the rise and fall of fame. You get seduced into it. Once you're on top, they'll rip you apart and tear you down. That's the nature of the beast."

Meanwhile, Bettencourt reflected on Eddie Van Halen's death and said that he felt some responsibility to keep on playing his guitar after the icon's passing.