Ill Morrissey cancels US concerts

Morrissey is expected to resume his US tour on Saturday

Rock icon Morrissey has been forced to cancel a string of gigs in the US due to a viral throat infection.

According to his spokesman, he has been told he will not be able to sing again before Saturday "at the earliest".

The former Smiths frontman has postponed a total of six concerts. The move comes after he had to stop a show in Boston after seven songs last week.

The Boston gig has been rescheduled for Saturday but two shows in New Jersey on Thursday and Friday will not go ahead.

After he cut the Boston concert short, Morrissey called off appearances in Northampton, Massachusetts, Philadelphia and New York.

He resumed his tour in Vienna, Virginia, on Monday.

But although he was able to complete that show, the decision was made to cancel the following appearances in Baltimore, Maryland, and Atlantic City and Holmdel, both in New Jersey.

Morrissey, who performed with the Smiths from 1982 to 1987, released his most recent solo album, Ringleader of the Tormentors, in 2006.