European fans anticipating Guns N' Roses [ tickets ] December tour of the continent--which was first scheduled to take place in June--will have to continue waiting. The group has again canceled the outing.

The nine-date tour of Europe was due to kick off on Dec. 2, but the group has canceled it in order to complete work on its long-delayed album, "Chinese Democracy," according to a statement issued by band manager Doug Goldstein.

"To ensure Guns N' Roses fans get the album they deserve," Goldstein said, "Axl Rose has spent every waking minute of everyday during the past 5 years writing, recording, and producing Guns' first album of all new material since 1991. Following the euphoria of [the band's performance at the January 2000] Rock in Rio [festival], I jumped the gun and arranged a European tour, as our plan was to have the new album out this year."

The band had originally planned to head out on the European trek in June, but scrapped those plans when Buckethead, one of the group's two guitarists, fell ill.

"Unfortunately, Buckethead's illness not only stopped the tour but it also slowed down progress on 'Chinese Democracy,'" Goldstein's recent statement continued. "As a result, touring right now is logistically impossible. I am very sorry to disappoint our fans but I can assure them that this is not what Axl wanted nor is it 'Another page from the Howard Hughes of rock' as some of the media will no doubt portray it. I made a plan and unfortunately it did not work out."

Goldstein and the group will be meeting with their record label to schedule the release of "Chinese Democracy," and will subsequently announce rescheduled tour dates, according to Goldstein's statement. No timeline was offered.

At last count, Guns N' Roses' lineup comprises sole original member and band leader Axl Rose, guitarists Buckethead and Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails), bassist Tommy Stinson (The Replacements), Brian "Brain" Mantia (Primus) and keyboardist Dizzy Reed, who first played with the group in the early '90s.

In addition to its Rock in Rio gig, Guns N' Roses also gave a New Year's Day performance at the Las Vegas House of Blues at the beginning of this year.