Here at rushonrock we’re still reeling at the news that German melodic metal kings the Scorpions are calling time on their fantastic career sometime in 2013.

New record Sting In The Tail, released in March, will be the band’s last studio album after the Teutonic maestros opted to go out on a high. And no doubt tickets for their mammoth farewell tour – a three-year trek visiting five continents will sell like the proverbial hot cakes (or maybe that should be Stollen).

Just what Scorps devotee Self Made Man makes of the band’s decision is anyone’s guess but expect a comment sometime soon from the last man to review the band right here. In the meantime here’s the band’s statement in full, just in case you missed it. “It was always our pleasure, our purpose in life, our passion and we were fortunate enough to make music for you — whether it was live on stage or in the studio, creating new songs,” an official band statement read.

“While we were working on our album these past few months, we could literally feel how powerful and creative our work was — and how much fun we were still having in the process. But there was also something else: we want to end the Scorpions’ extraordinary career on a high note.

“We are extremely grateful for the fact that we still have the same passion for music we’ve always had since the beginning. This is why, especially now, we agree we have reached the end of the road. We finish our career with an album we consider to be one of the best we have ever recorded and with a tour that will start in our home country Germany and take us to five different continents over the next few years.

“We want you, our fans, to be the first to know about this.

“Thank you for your never-ending support throughout the years!

“We uploaded the very first snippets from our new album onto our website. And now… let’s get the party started and get ready for a Sting In The Tail!”