Former Animals and War frontman Eric Burdon has announced that he had to cancel a number of concert dates due to an upcoming appointment: he’s having back surgery. Burdon has suffered back pain for over three years.

The surgery involves micro-decompression in the lumbar region of the spine and will be performed in Los Angeles, California. This is considered a routine surgery, however Burdon’s doctors report that he will experience a reduction in his activities during a recuperation period that can last anywhere from three to six months.

Other than his performances, Burdon also had to postpone his new record release ‘Til Your River Runs Dry until early next year. A planned EP with garage rockers the Greenhornes, however, will be released November 30. Two of the members of The Greenhornes play with Jack White in the Raconteurs — bassist Jack Lawrence (who also plays with White in The Dead Weather) and drummer Patrick Keeler — so the EP will probably bring some extra attention to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer.

Burdon got some extra press earlier this year when Bruce Springsteen named dropped The Animals during his South By Southwest keynote address, grabbing his acoustic guitar to demonstrate the extent of Burdon’s influence: he played “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place” and said, “That’s every song I’ve ever written. I’m not kidding, that’s all of ‘em!”

– Brian Ives, CBS Local