Morphine [ tickets ] frontman Mark Sandman was pronounced dead in Italy early Sunday morning after suffering a heart attack during a concert, according to an Associated Press report. A doctor unsuccessfully attempted to revive the stricken vocalist and bassist for the Boston-based trio en route to a hospital.

Band manager Deborah Klein said Sunday, ''We're devastated. We don't even know what to say. We're all in shock.''

Morphine was about to embark on a North American tour, booked as a co-headline package with Soul Coughing. The band was also scheduled to play a near-hometown date at the Cape Cod Music Festival on July 31st.

The band, including sax player Dana Colley and drummer Billy Conway, was touring behind their Dreamworks label debut, Like Swimming, released in 1997.