Motorhead has canceled the remaining eight shows on its European festival tour, drummer Mikkey Dee has revealed to the Swedish newspaper Gt.se.

The band scrapped several gigs last week after Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister suffered a haematoma (where blood collects outside of a blood vessel). The news of Lemmy's latest medical issue followed reports that he was also recently fitted with a defibrillator because of heart problems.

"Things are improving with Lemmy, but the doctors in Berlin are recommending that he rests for another couple of weeks," Dee said. "We can't keep canceling show after show, it's too costly. Therefore we unfortunately have to cancel the entire tour. There will be an official announcement regarding his health shortly."

Dee had been looking forward to the band's headlining show at Metaltown in his hometown Gothenburg on Thursday July 4.

"It's so fucking typical, but what are you going to do?" he said. "You have to put health before everything else."

Asked if he has a message for the Motorhead fans, Mikkey said: "We're really sorry. But we're not canceling because of a cold and this is something we've put a lot of thought into."

Regarding Motorhead's plans for the immediate future, Mikkey said: "Our buses, trucks and trailers are rolling home this afternoon. We're going to focus on the coming album and our big European tour this fall."

Mikkey also spoke about what he intends to do during his unwanted time off. "I have to twiddle my thumbs," he said. "Maybe I'll go fishing more than usual."

A message on Lemmy's Facebook page downplayed his latest medical issues, stating: "We are happy to announce that despite rumors to the contrary, Lemmy is alive, breathing, talking, fucking, drinking, eating, reading and will be back to playing shows shortly.

"As reported, he did undergo a Motor-pit-stop for some medical maintenance this past spring, and the timing of his recent illness was unfortunate in that it came so soon after that.

"Lemmy & Co believe in the 'keep calm and carry on' way of thinking. Fans can anticipate more MotÖRhead live action this summer, as well as the most exciting Motorhead in years, 'Aftershock', this fall."

Motorhead has set "Aftershock" as the title of its new album, tentatively due in September. The follow-up to 2010's "The World Is Yours" was recorded at Maple Sound Studios in Santa Ana, California with longtime producer Cameron Webb and will feature 13 songs, including "Dust And Glass", "Knife", "Going To Mexico", "Lost Woman Blues", "Death Machine" and "Heartbreaker".