MICHAEL SCHENKER, ULI JON ROTH and LESLIE WEST were scheduled to hit the road in October on the 3 Guitar Heroes Tour, but the tour has been postponed. According to a tour update, Leslie West's recovery from his leg amputation has caused the delay and the shows have moved to early 2012.

West has issued the following official statement: "To everyone involved on this tour. I am very sad today. I was so hoping this would happen. Everyone worked so hard, and it would have been FUN. Yeah, I wanted it to be fun.

Unfortunately it was not being able to climb stairs, go to a simple thing like a bathroom on a tour bus, which is tight for a normal person, let alone me. I start training with my new leg Wednesday, so I can get back to a normal life.

I do hope that everyone would consider doing West coast to East after NAMM. Bob and Wayne think this is possible. If you guys think you would want to do this, I will work that much harder to learn to walk, which I will do anyway, but thought I would throw this in there."

On June 20th in Memphis, TN hospital, West's leg was removed just above the knee due to complications from diabetes. "I cried a couple fuckin' times," he told Billboard.com. "You still feel the nerves and stuff like that. I had to make a decision - lose my leg or lose my life. What are you gonna do? But I'll tell you, it's a good thing it wasn't one of my arms. Then I'd be really fucked."

Manager Bob Ringe was the mastermind behind the 3 Guitar Heroes Tour, and there are some very special surprises for this excursion. Following sets by each artist, the evening will climax with a jam of these highly influential artists on stage together, with special guests earmarked to join them in most markets including Dean Guitars CEO, Elliott "Dean" Rubinson who will be the tour bassist for both Schenker and Roth.

Stay tuned to 3-Guitar-Heroes.com for more details.