PARADISE LOST Forced To Cancel Malta Concert

British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have been forced to cancel tonight's (April 17) appearance at the Mediterranean Metal Gathering 2010 at Montekristo Wine Vaults (Club Renaissance) on the Mediterranean island of Malta after a cloud of ash from an Icelandic volcano continued to blanket Europe Saturday, shutting down airspace in 23 countries and causing travel misery for millions of people.

Commented the band: "It is with huge regret that we have to postpone the gig in Malta this weekend until a later date which will be announced soon.

"Due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland, and subsequent ban on planes entering U.K. airspace we have no option but to wait until this is over and try again.

"Despite both the pope initially and now mother nature doing their best to prevent us playing we are determined to make this happen."

Added singer Nick Holmes: "To all PARADISE LOST fans in Malta, we regret to announce due to British aerospace ban on flights our concert will have to be postponed to a later date.

"We have had a string of bad luck with shows of late, this is the third cancellation through no fault of our own, but we hope this is only a temporary hiccup; we really want to make this happen!

"Please don't burn effigies of us in the streets just yet, and keep an eye out for the rescheduled date!"

Supporting at tonight's show was supposed to come from KNOCKTURN ALLEY, NOMAD SON and THE LESSER GODS.

CNN.com reports that twenty-three European countries were prohibiting takeoffs and landings Saturday, according to Eurocontrol and local authorities. Some of those countries kept their airspace open, but it may be difficult to access it because in most cases, the surrounding area is not available for flights, Eurocontrol said.

Airlines including Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Ryanair and Qantas announced restrictions to their schedules in Europe because of the ash, which experts have said can stall engines and cause electrical failures on board aircraft.

Forecasts suggest the cloud of ash will persist and that the impact will continue for at least the next 24 hours, Eurocontrol said Saturday morning.