A family emergency has pulled San Diego-based rock act Unwritten Law off of the road. The band will not complete the seven dates remaining on its headlining U.S. club tour, which was due to play Chicago on Friday (Dec. 10).

Bassist Pat Kim's father was hospitalized earlier this week with an undisclosed serious ailment. According to a statement, the band decided to cancel the tour so he could be at his side.

"We're extremely saddened to have to cancel the tour and let down our fans," singer/guitarist Scott Russo says. "Due to the unforeseeable circumstances and our concern for Pat and his family, we made the right decision to turn the bus around."

The band, which was touring with Denver Harbor and Dropping Daylight in tow, plans to reschedule the cancelled dates early next year. It was unknown at deadline if the support acts will play the shows as scheduled.

Unwritten Law was out in advance of its forthcoming Lava album "Here's to the Mourning," Although not due until February, album tracks "Get Up" and "Rejections Cold" can be sampled at PureVolume.com.

"Mourning" will be the follow-up to 2003's "Music in High Places," which debuted at No. 5 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and No. 134 on The Billboard 200.

Here are Unwritten Law's canceled tour dates:

Dec. 10: Chicago (Metro)
Dec. 11: Detroit (Shelter @ St. Andrews)
Dec. 12: Cleveland (Odeon)
Dec. 13: Towson, Md. (Recher Theatre)
Dec. 14: Philadelphia (Theatre Of Living Arts)
Dec. 15: Hoboken, N.J. (Maxwell's)
Dec. 16: Boston (Axis)