Saliva had to pull out of the headlining slot for KISW's Deep Fried Double Wide Holiday Hangover Ball after singer Josey Scott was hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat and will be replaced by Queensryche Friday night at Seattle's Showbox SoDo, according to a press release sent out by event organizer KISW-FM (99.9).

The release included this statement from Saliva's management:

We're regretful to announce that Saliva will not be able to perform at KISW's 2008 Holiday Hangover due to an unexpected health scare of lead singer Josey Scott. He was hospitalized Monday evening due to an irregular heartbeat.

The band was scheduled to depart for the nationally syndicated radio show Rockline when Scott noticed a fluttering in his heart that didn't seem right. The paramedics were called and he was taken to a local hospital where he spent the next four nights. His diagnosis was cardiac arrhythmia, which in some cases can be life threatening. His heartbeat was stabilized Wednesday afternoon and is under doctor's orders for several days of no travel and rest.

The band prides themselves to be a hard working act who has rarely ever missed a performance. They apologize to the fans in the Seattle area for this unfortunate situation. There will definitely be a make up show in 2009.

Queensryche will perform a rare acoustic set at Friday night's event, which will also include performances by Duff MacKagan’s Loaded and Jet Black Stare.

Saliva fans should hold onto their tickets afterward, because they will also be good for Saliva's return to Seattle, once Scott's health permits, according to the KISW release.

I was checkin' out all the bigshots' birthdays on our A2 page this morning, and noticed that the Seattle boy turned hair metal hero is 50 today. Congrats are due since many wouldn't have predicted that a guy who's been legally dead twice would make it that many years, as chronicled in the guy's memoir "The Heroin Diaries."

By the way, you can click here to listen to him talk about his Seattle days, the book and gettin' clean and other stuff from the last time I interviewed him.

The esteemed Mr. Sixx turns 50 today.
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