Sum 41 Cancel Warped Tour Dates After Attack

Sum 41 has cancelled their return to the Vans Warped Tour following last Thursday's attack on frontman Deryck Whibley in Japan. The singer defied doctors orders and went on with their Summer Sonic shows, but his back injury has not improved.

"Being a part of the Warped Tour this summer meant a lot to us," drummer Steve Jocz said in a statement. "We haven't toured in two years and the bands, the crowds and the entire Warped Tour crew have been amazing to us.

"We were excited to be back in front of our fans and are very disappointed that we have to pull off the tour. We know that it would be more frustrating for the fans if we can't give it our all. Deryck is doing everything he can to get himself better and we're there for him."

The Canadian band -- which also includes bassist Cone McCaslin and guitarist Tom Thacker -- played more than 20 Warped dates over seven weeks in North America, before taking a brief leave last week to play Summer Sonic festival dates in Japan.

While there, Whibley was blindsided by a random unprovoked assault which put him in the hospital and "aggravated a previous slipped disk injury that he sustained in 2007," the statement says. Sum 41 still played the festival in Osaka and Tokyo, but feel it's best to cancel their remaining five dates on Warped back in the States.

"Knowing that they are unable to deliver their signature high energy show, Sum 41 made the tough decision that a break is needed while Deryck begins rehabilitation for the slipped disk," the statement says.

The band still has plans to tour Europe at the end of August.

Sum 41 will not perform at the following Vans Warped Tour dates:

August 11, 2010 – Pomona, CA
August 12, 2010 – Marysville, CA
August 13, 2010 – Boise, ID
August 14, 2010 – Quincy, WA
August 15, 2010 – Portland, OR