Elvis Costello has announced that he is cancelling the remainder of his European tour after undergoing surgery to remove a "very aggressive" tumour.
The 63-year-old had the surgery in May and subsequently went out on the road - including a date at Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre last month - but has now realised he needs more time to recover.
In a statement, Costello said: "Six weeks ago my specialist called me and said, 'You should start playing the Lotto'. He had rarely, if ever, seen such a small but very aggressive cancerous malignancy that could be defeated by a single surgery.
"I was elated and relieved that our European summer tour could go ahead."
"The spirit has been more than willing," Costello continued.
"But I have to now accept it is going to take longer than I would have wished for me to recover my full strength."
Having apologised to his fans and thanked them and his bandmates the Imposters for their support, Costello concluded his statement with "some more optimistic news".
"The Imposters and I - together with several of our other friends - have made a magnificent new record of which we are truly proud," he said. "It will be issued in October, I believe. We will return at the soonest opportunity to play that music and your favourite songs that still make sense to us all."
He also urged fans to look after their health.
"Take very good care of your loved ones but Gentleman, do talk to you friends - you'll find you are not alone - seek your doctor's advice if you are in doubt or when it is timely and act as swiftly as you may in these matters. It may save your life. Believe me, it is better than playing roulette."
