"The band has decided to carry on into 2011 without me... I had a great time with them throughout 2010, but it was their choice to end the relationship at the end of 2010 as was always the initial plan..."

Mike had been standing in with the band since Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan died late 2009.

Mike appeares on the band's latest album 'Nightmare' and has toured with them since the middle of the year.

Avenged Sevenfold state on their site:

"We regretfully announce that we will not be performing at the upcoming Soundwave in Australia. After much effort, we have decided thatwe could not offer fans the live experience they have come to expect and didn't want to disappoint them."

Avenged Sevenfold will tour with Stone Sour, Hollywood Undead and New Medicine in the US in January. They haven’t yet announced who’ll be drumming with them.

Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater - the band he’d founded 25 years previously - last September, which came as a huge surprise to many.