KING DIAMOND have announced that they have been forced to cancel their anticipated March 2008 tour with KREATOR, LEAVES EYES, and CELLADOR due to a serious herniated disc injury to King Diamond.

Here is official word from the band’s manager, Ole Bang:

“Most regretfully we have to announce that King will not be able to tour North America as planned.

“King has over the past 6 month been suffering from a herniated disc in the spine, and has still not recovered to a satisfactory level.

“He was prescribed absolute rest for several months, and this appear to be more than half a year.

“Following several visits to specialists and most recent MRI-scan; we have to realize that his condition need far more rest than expected in the first place. At the moment he can neither walk for more than an hour at a time, nor can he sit like you would do in a normal daily life; ie. there is no chance that he will fully recover in time for the tour start in March.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused for everyone involved, for promoters, bands and fans; and most of all we’re very very sorry that we can not go out and perform for the fans; who have been waiting for the tour to kick off.

“Unfortunately life is unpredictable, and it’s completely out of our hands when illness kick in, and no medicine, how harsh it might have been, can cure the situation. If anything could remedy the situation it would have been done, but for now we simply just have to wait, and let King get the much needed rest.

“I will post news about any developments as soon as it’s available.

“At this time we will also like to say Thanks, for all the kind words of a speedy recovery we have received.”