As previously reported, due to vocalist Simone Simons' ongoing health issues EPICA have tapped long time friend, vocal coach and collaborator Amanda Somerville to step in (read the band's statement here). Somerville has since issued a statement of her own, found below:

"Hello my Dears, and especially this time to Epica fans,

Sadly, Simone Simons, the lead singer of the Dutch band Epica, is still ill and will not be able to go on the planned tour through the USA and Canada this coming April-May. As many of you know, Simone and the guys of Epica are very good friends of mine. I have worked with them since their first album and on every album / DVD since their beginnings as the band we know and love that is Epica today. It is for that reason that Simone and the rest of the band have asked me to accompany Epica on the tour while Simone is ill. We all realize that this is a delicate matter and that Epica fans will be disappointed not to be able to see their beloved Simone, however I hope that you can understand the special circumstances and recognize that this is the only alternative to canceling the tour completely.

It’s important to me that you know that is in no way the band’s nor my intention to replace Simone. She is one-of-a-kind, invaluable to Epica and indeed their frontwoman and the face of the band. I assure you that I will do my very best to do justice to the performance you have come to expect from Epica and give it my all. Since I co-wrote many of the songs and was Simone’s vocal coach during the recordings of the albums, I feel as comfortable performing the songs as if they were my own.

Thank you for your understanding and for your support. This is, of course, quite a turn of events for us all and a mix of emotions is riding high. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, however, I feel positive about the tour and we will give it our all to make the shows an unforgettable Epica experience!"

xx

Amanda

The dates for Epica's North American tour with SYMPHONY X and INTO ETERNITY are as follows:

April

4 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
5 - New York, NY - Nokia Theater Times Square
6 - Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero
8 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial de Quebec
9 - Montreal, QC - Medley
10 - London, ON - Embassy
11 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
12 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
13 - Mokena, IL - The Pearl Room
16 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
17 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
18 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
19 - West Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues
20 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
22 - Santa Ana, CA - Galaxy Theatre
23 - Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse
25 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
26 - Houston, TX - Meridian
27 - Ft. Worth, TX - Ridglea Theater
29 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
30 - St. Petersburg, FL - The State Theatre

May

1 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
2 - Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall
3 - West Springfield, VA - Jaxx