New Kids blame recession for tour cancellation

NEW KIDS On The Block have cancelled their Australian tour blaming the international economic downturn.

Posting a blog on their website, member Donnie Wahlberg wrote: "We are, in fact, in the middle of a worldwide recession and we just cannot make it work."

He also said they had "exhausted efforts" to commit to the tour, but it had proved "too complex".

The 80s boy band reformed last year and released their first album since they split in 1994, and have since toured the US and UK.

Wahlberg said: "In response to so many of the Aussie fans' amazing efforts and the collecting of signatures of thousands - our promoters, as well as our management team, worked incredibly hard to make an Australian tour a reality.

"Despite warnings that the financial problems plaguing the world would compromise the Australian tour - they never gave up on this dream and neither did we.

"However - I'm sorry to say that now - it is true."He said the group were "saddened" as Australia had "always been one of our favourite places to travel to".

He added: "We can only assure you that when the recession's stranglehold on the world's economies eases up a bit - we will find a way to make this work."