If distributors follow that memo it means it will not even ship to stores until today. Record companies sell to distributors, distributors sell and ship to the actual music stores, but it has to be before the 16th due to the German and Netherlands release date being the 13th. And of course the vinyl version has made it's way into the hands of the public already.
I'm guessing the major shit that happened is the storm that destroyed the bands stage/gear.
I assume you friend is the user maidencroatia over on the IMFC forums. He posted the same thing, but said he wasn't sure because he couldn't understand his source clearly.