Written by: Alex Green

The Fall have been forced to cancel their upcoming U.S. dates.

The cancellation is due to the poor health of frontman Mark E. Smith, who has been hospitalized with respiratory difficulties. Smith was reported to be too ill to get on a plane.

The band’s manager Pamela Vander released a statement on Smith that read: “Unfortunately it would be a gamble on his health to fly anywhere over the next couple of months.”

She referred to the situation as: “…terrible timing, reality and a mix of bizarre and rare (true to form) medical issues.”

The Prestwich outfit, who were formed by Smith back in 1976, were set to play Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right from September 11 to the 17.

The 9/12-9/16 dates are already sold out.

The band were se to tour behind their 32nd album New Facts Emerge, which features Smith, who is the only remaining original member, along with Dave Spurr, Pete Greenway and Keiron Melling.

Vander’s statement ending on an optimistic note: “Your Lord and Saviour Markus E. Smith wants to let you all know that even though he can’t play live for a short while, the cabin fever is spitting out a new album already and new music is now (as ever) The Fall’s main focus.”