Guns N' Roses [ tickets ]--a band that hasn't released an album of original material in well over a decade--have cancelled their May 30 performance at this year's Rock in Rio festival.

In a statement, frontman Axl Rose, the group's sole original member, blamed recently departed guitarist Buckethead [ tickets ]--so named because he performs with an empty Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket on his head--for the cancellation.

"The band has been put in an untenable position by guitarist Buckethead and his untimely departure," Rose said. "During his tenure with the band, Buckethead has been inconsistent and erratic in both his behavior and commitment--despite being under contract--creating uncertainty and confusion and making it virtually impossible to move forward with recording, rehearsals and live plans with confidence. His transient lifestyle has made it impossible for even his closest friends to have nearly any form of communication with him whatsoever.

"According to those who have actually spoken with Buckethead, it appears his plans were to secure a recording contract with Sanctuary Records, which I encouraged my management to make available to him, quit GN'R and to use his involvement in the upcoming Guns release to immediately promote his individual efforts," Rose continued. "Nice guy!

Rose went on to apologize to "fans who planned to see us at Rock in Rio," and said that, "rather than dwelling on the negative, Guns will be moving forward and surprisingly, (without giving away any details), this unfortunate set of circumstances may have given us the opportunity to take our recording that one extra step further."

Rose has spent years working on a new Guns N' Roses album titled "Chinese Democracy." The singer said in his latest statement that he hopes to "announce a release date within the next few months."

The album was originally expected to surface in late 2002, when the band mounted an ill-fated tour that was marred by last-minute cancellations and riots, and ultimately was canceled.