Heaven & Hell Cancel All Summer Shows

Heaven & Hell have cancelled all of their summer tour dates, including slots at Bloodstock, European Sonisphere Festivals and the High Voltage Festival.

The band issued a statement that said:

"We have to announce that all forthcoming Heaven & Hell European shows have been cancelled as sadly Ronnie isn’t well enough to tour this summer.

"We hope that everyone understands and want to thank fans and industry colleagues for their continuing support at this time.”

Ronnie James Dio is still battling the stomach cancer which was diagnosed at the end of 2009 and despite the best efforts of doctors and Ronnie himself it seems that the shows have come just a little too soon.

UPDATE: Ronnie issued a brief statement on his official website that said:

"I would like to voice my great disappointment on the cancellation of the Heaven And Hell summer tour. Wendy, my doctors and I have worked so hard to make it happen for all of you, the ones we care so much about, that this set back could be devastating, but we will not let it be.

"With your continued love and support, we... will carry on and thrive. There will be other tours, more music, more life and much more magic."

Here’s the dates that look set to be affected:

13 June 2010 - Nova Rock Festival, Austria
18 June 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Switzerland
19 June 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Czech Republic
22 June 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Bulgaria
26 June 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Romania
27 June 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Turkey
01 July 2010 - Rock In Roma Festival, Rome
03 July 2010 - Alcatraz, Madrid
04 July 2010 - Pordenone Fiera, Pordenone
06 July 2010 - Razzmatazz 1, Barcelona
08 July 2010 - Lisbon Optimus Alive Festival, Portugal
10 July 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Madrid
24 July 2010 - High Voltage Festival, London
01 August 2010 - Waerdse Tempel, Heehugowaard, The Netherlands
07 August 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Sweden
08 August 2010 - Sonisphere Festival, Finland
11 August 2010 - Norway Koengen, Bergen
15 August 2010 - Bloodstock Festival, Derbyshire

It’s desperately disappointing that we won’t be seeing Ronnie on the road this summer, but we’d rather he got himself back to full health so that he’s fighting fit in 2011.

Get well soon, Ronnie.