Tom Morello cancels Europe shows due to mother's illness

Tom Morello has cancelled two upcoming gigs due to his mother's recent hospitalisation.

In a statement posted via Instagram on Thursday, the Rage Against the Machine guitarist announced that he was returning to the U.S. to help care for his 102-year-old mother, Mary Morello.

"Dear friends, fans and comrades, my dear mom, Mary Morello is back in the hospital and I'm headed home to help look after her," he wrote. "Rocking the UK & Europe with you all this summer has been incredible, and I can't wait to be back with you and continue this movement that we started. With much love, unity and power."

Morello had been due to appear at the Tons Of Rock Festival in Oslo, Norway and the BBK Music Legends Festival in Bilbao, Spain over the weekend.

Earlier this month, the musician also pulled out of planned gigs in London and Paris, with refunds available at the point of sale, though he did play at the Pinkpop festival in the Netherlands.

"I am sorry I had to miss a few shows due to my mom's health," the 62-year-old noted. "The incredibly resilient, indefatigable Mary Morello at 102 is now feeling somewhat better and has ordered me back into the fray, charging me with rocking you and fighting fascism six strings at a time."

Morello hasn't specified when he will next perform.

The rocker's mother Mary, who was a former teacher and activist, also co-founded the anti-censorship group, Parents for Rock and Rap, in the late '80s.