HEAVEN & HELL recently announced the cancellation of all planned appearances this summer in the UK and Europe via the following statement:

"We have to announce that all forthcoming Heaven & Hell European shows have been cancelled as sadly Ronnie isn’t well enough to tour this summer. We hope that everyone understands and want to thank fans and industry colleagues for their continuing support at this time.”

Vocalist Ronnie James Dio has since issued the following statement:

"I would like to voice my great disappointment on the cancellation of the Heaven & Hell summer tour. Wendy (wife / manager), my doctors and I have worked so hard to make it happen for all of you, the ones we care so much about, that this setback could be devastating, but we will not let it be. With your continued love and support, we will carry on and thrive. There will be other tours, more music, more life and much more magic."

Stay tuned for further updates from the band.

In late March, KIAH-TV Houston has issued the following report from Steve Simon:

He's been called the "Grand Wizard Of Classic Rock" and a heavy metal icon, but for the past few months 67-year-old RONNIE JAMES DIO has been known as a cancer patient.

"Why come to Houston? It's the best hospital", Dio said as he got ready for a round of chemotherapy at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Monday.

Dio has been going to M.D. Anderson since late last year when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

"I've been poked and prodded in holes I never had before," Dio said.

Dio is soft-spoken and relaxed during treatment, it's a different persona then most people are used to seeing. He's been the front-man for groups like BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW and currently he's the lead vocalist for DIO. He made the "devil's horn" hand gesture part of the heavy metal culture.

Those hands now get support from wife Wendy, nurses and doctors. Dio first noticed symptoms after Halloween. He felt chest-pain and indigestion that eventually led to the cancer diagnosis. Dio now comes to Houston every two weeks for treatment.

"I'm lucky that I'm a hard person in terms of my beliefs," said Dio.

Dio then has a direct message for the tumor in his stomach: "Cancer, I'll kick the hell out of you."

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