American rock veteran Meat Loaf has been diagnosed with a cyst on his vocal cords and has cancelled the remaining 11 dates of his Three Bats European tour. But in true rock'n'roll fashion he has declared: “I will be back”.

In a statement on his official website meatloaf.net, the singer said doctors had diagnosed an inter-vocal cord cyst.

He said while most cysts of this type usually require surgery, voice therapy will be carried out first to establish whether he will need to undergo an operation. It will be up to six weeks before it is known what course of action may be required.

Despite walking off stage in Newcastle upon Tyne last week and declaring he would never sing again, Meat Loaf said yesterday he will return to the stage.

“It really breaks my heart not to be able to perform these shows,” the 60-year-old rocker said.

“I was really looking forward to capping off a great year and celebrating the start of the holidays with the fans. But I have to do what the doctors tell me so I can look forward to healing and coming back strong in 2008.

“Let me dispel any rumours before they start - I will be back.”

Last week Meat Loaf, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday, quit his gig in Newcastle half-way through the set.

According to fans, he had just begun singing his hit song Paradise by the Dashboard Light when he suddenly stopping singing and told the audience: “I can no longer continue, this is the last show I may ever do in my life.”

A doctor was reportedly summoned and the singer was diagnosed as suffering from exhaustion and from acute Laryngitis and urged to rest.

The rock balladeer and sometime actor, is best known for his albums Bat Out of Hell I, II and III.

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