Dethklok may be a fictional band on the Adult Swim cartoon "Metalocalypse," but that won't stop the group from co-headlining a major tour this fall. Progressive metal band Mastodon is taking the animated death metal crew on the road for its upcoming 34-city trek across North America.

The seven-week outing begins October 2 at Roseland Theater in Portland, OR, and closes November 19 at the Palladium in Los Angeles, CA. Highlights along the way include shows on October 17 at Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL; October 30 at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, NY; November 5 at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA; and November 13 at Austin City Music Hall in Austin, TX.

Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher has been hospitalized in London since November 3, as the band performed on the Unholy Alliance: Chapter III tour with headliner Slayer and supporting acts Trivium and Amon Amart. According to the band's Web Site, Kelliher’s undisclosed condition is improving, and doctors continue to monitor it.

Although they had to bow out of two shows -- November 3 show at Academy in Glasgow, Scotland, and November 5 show at Stadthalle in Offenbach, Germany -- the Atlanta-based hard rock quartet has decided to continue on the tour as a trio. Doctors are hopeful that Kelliher will rejoin his band mates in time for their headlining tour of Europe, which begins November 30 in Utrecht, Netherlands, and ends on December 7, at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in Somerset, England.

by Brian Frenette