Meat Loaf scraps European tour

PEOPLE

Meat Loaf scraps European tour

LONDON— Meat Loaf has canceled a European tour after developing a cyst on his vocal cords. The 56-year-old rocker will have four to six weeks of vocal therapy before doctors decide whether he needs surgery, said a statement posted on his Web site Tuesday.

He had already scrapped several British dates on the "Three Bats” tour after walking off the stage in the northern English city of Newcastle last week during a rendition of his 1970s hit "Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”

"It really breaks my heart not to be able to perform these shows,” he said in a statement. "I was really looking forward to capping off a great year and celebrating the start of the holidays with the fans. But I have to do what the doctors tell me.

"Let me dispel any rumors before they start — I will be back,” he said.

Meat Loaf, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, is best known for epic power ballads including "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad” and "Bat Out of Hell.” He had heart surgery in 2003 after collapsing onstage in London.

Shows were canceled in Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands and Ireland.