AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson has been told to stop touring immediately or risk going deaf.
The Australian rock band have now postponed the remaining dates of their US tour because of the Gateshead-born singer's condition.
The band said doctors advised the 68-year-old Back In Black singer to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss.
The group's shows beginning on Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia, until April 4 in New York are being rescheduled for later in the year, probably with a guest vocalist.
AC/DC opened the most recent US leg of their Rock or Bust tour on February 2 in Tacoma, Washington.
The band are due to begin a European leg on May 7 in Lisbon, Portugal.
A statement on the group's website said: "AC/DC are forced to reschedule the ten upcoming dates on the US leg of their Rock or Bust world tour.
"AC/DC's lead singer, Brian Johnson, has been advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss."
Johnson, 68, has been lead singer with AC/DC since 1980 following the death of former frontman Bon Scott.
The postponement of gigs is the latest in a series of setbacks for the band.
Former drummer Phil Rudd pleaded guilty last year to charges of drug possession and making threats to kill. He was sentenced to eight months of home detention.
Meanwhile, in 2014 it was announced that founding member and guitarist Malcolm Young was suffering from dementia and would not be returning to the band.
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