FORMER Darkness drummer Ed Graham has pulled out of a tour with his new band due to an “emergency health issue”, it has been announced.

FORMER Darkness drummer Ed Graham has pulled out of a tour with his new band due to an “emergency health issue”, it has been announced.

The 31-year-old, who now plays drums with the band Stone Gods, is “just not able to play drums at the moment”, the group said.

Stone Gods, which also features ex-Darkness members Dan Hawkins and Richie Edwards, will now be rehearsing a new drummer for the remainder of their tour and upcoming festival gigs.

The group posted a statement on their website which read: “We very much regret to announce that due to an emergency health issue of our drummer Ed Graham we will have to postpone the shows in Liverpool (June 10), Cardiff (June 1) and Bristol (June 12).

“In order to make the rest of the tour and the two festival gigs happen, we are in the process of rehearsing a new drummer.

“We are really sorry to do this but Ed is just not able to play drums at the moment and we apologise for any inconvenience that this might cause.”

The band said they would reschedule the postponed dates.

Ed, from Lowestoft, formed Stone Gods with Dan and Richie after The Darkness - Suffolk's most successful ever rock band - split up two years ago. Stone Gods are preparing to release their debut album, Knight of the Living Dead, next month.