Exploited Singer Wattie Buchan Has Heart Attack On Stage

The Exploited, one of the original U.K. punk bands, has had to cancel their European tour after their lead singer suffered a heart attack on stage. It is expected that he will remain in the hospital for about a week.

The Daily Record reports that last Thursday (Feb. 13), Walter "Wattie" Buchan, 57, lost consciousness and collapsed during a performance at the Republica da Musica club in Lisbon, Portugal. The band had been touring with Napalm Death and Hatebreed as part of the Tour of Chaos. All of their gigs up through May have been put on indefinite hold.

Earlier today, Buchan's wife Gena posted the following message to the band's Facebook page. "My lovely husband Wattie has asked me to say thanks to everyone from him (and also thanks from myself) for all their well wishes and support for him! Means alot to us both and has been really helpful in cheering him up."

Formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1978, the Exploited released a slew of independent records in the '80s that mixed hardcore punk with a staunch and defiant anti-racism, anti-facism and anti-intolerance stance. They had working on a new album with an anticipated release date later this year.