Elton John tour: Music icon cancels remaining New Zealand concerts due to walking pneumonia diagnosis - CBS News
Elton John tour: Music icon cancels remaining New Zealand concerts due to walking pneumonia diagnosis - CBS News |
| Posted: 20 Feb 2020 12:57 PM PST  Elton John canceled his two remaining New Zealand shows late Tuesday as he continued to suffer from a bout of pneumonia. The shows have been rescheduled for next year. Earlier this week, John had to cut short a performance in Auckland after he lost his voice and needed medical help on stage. John said in a statement Tuesday that he was "incredibly disappointed" and apologized to his fans. He said that at this stage, he is planning to play his scheduled shows in Australia, which is where his farewell tour moves to next. Video clips posted online by fans at Sunday night's performance showed John breaking down in tears as he told the cheering crowd he couldn't go on any longer. The 72-year-old singer said he had walking pneumonia and was assisted off stage. Tour promoters Chugg Entertainment initially said that John was recovering and the tour would go on as planned, aside from pushing back the next New Zealand performance by one day to Wednesday. But on Tuesday night, the promoters released another statement. "Despite the best efforts of a performer who never wants to disappoint his fans, upon further consultation from doctors and specialists, it has this evening been decided that Sir Elton John's two remaining Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, performances will be rescheduled to Friday 15th and Saturday 16th January 2021," it said. John said he'd be back. "I always want to be able to give 100% and I'm afraid that, right now, I'm not able to do that. I am grateful for the love and loyalty I have been shown by all of you and I can't wait to return in January next year to perform my final New Zealand shows," he said in his statement. The concerts were part of John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. After the New Zealand shows, John is scheduled for seven performances in Australia before traveling to the U.S. and Canada. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday that she watched John's shortened show and got to meet him for about five minutes before he started playing. "You could tell that he wasn't feeling well and he said he wasn't feeling well," Ardern said. "So I think you could see that on the stage last night, which I think is just a credit to his commitment to his fans." John had told the crowd he was ill but that he didn't want to miss the show, according to the New Zealand Herald. He slumped on a stool and required medical attention after performing "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," but recovered and continued to play. Later, as he attempted to sing "Daniel," he said he realized he had no voice left and was escorted off stage. John had just returned to New Zealand after performing at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles. He won an Oscar for best original song for his theme song for the movie "Rocketman." According to the Mayo Clinic, walking pneumonia is an informal term for a milder form of pneumonia that isn't severe enough to require hospitalization or bed rest. It affects the respiratory tract and is most often caused by bacteria. |
| Promoter says Elton John's tour will continue despite walking pneumonia illness - Daily Mail Posted: 17 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST Sir Elton John was forced to cut his New Zealand concert in Auckland short on Sunday night due to a recent diagnosis of walking pneumonia. But the British superstar's tour promoters have ensured fans Elton, 72, has no plans to cancel the remaining dates of his Farewell tour in Australia and New Zealand. In a statement released on Monday, Chugg Entertainment confirmed: 'At this stage, all remaining shows will go ahead as planned.'  The show goes on: A statement released on Monday, by promoter Chugg Entertainment, confirmed Sir Elton John's Farewell tour WILL continue as planned despite the rock legend being forced to cancel Auckland show after 'walking pneumonia' diagnosis 'Elton John was disappointed and deeply upset at having to end his Auckland concert early last night,' the promoters' statement said. The official announcement comes after Elton himself penned a remorseful open letter dedicated to the 47,000 fans who attended the Auckland concert. 'I want to thank everyone who attended tonight's gig in Auckland. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible,' he wrote on Instagram.  Emotional: Elton fought back tears during Sunday's concert, as he told the crowd he couldn't sing or 'go on' due to his illness Walking pneumonia is caused by bacteria that affects the lower and upper respiratory tract, and is a milder form of pneumonia. 'I'm disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had,' the entertainer added. He continued: 'Thank-you so much for your extraordinary support and all the love you showed me during tonight's performance. I am eternally grateful. Love, Elton.'  Trooper: The English singer-songwriter revealed that he had been diagnosed with 'walking pneumonia' earlier in the day but wanted to give fans 'the best show humanly possible'  'I just don't have anything left': On Sunday, Elton told the 47,000 strong crowd at Mt. Smart stadium in Auckland that he was unsure how much longer he could go on Earlier on in the show, the two-time Academy-award winner fought back tears as disclosed his rare condition with concert goers. As he prepared to sing the lyrics to his hit Daniel, an emotional Elton told the audience that he couldn't go on. 'I've just completely lost my voice. I can't sing. I've got to go,' he said, before being escorted off the stage by a medic.  On the road: Elton has been on the road for his Australian and New Zealand Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, said to be his final ever trek, for the past two months  Happier times: Earlier this month Elton, won his second Academy Award for Best Original Song for his track, (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again, it's his second win after nabbing the same award in 1994 for The Lion King track, Circle of Life. Pictured at the 92nd Academy Awards on Feb 9 Elton has been on the road for his Australian and New Zealand Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour for the past two months. He is scheduled to play two additional Auckland shows this week, before returning to Australia to commence another round of concerts from February 22. There is no word yet on if there will be refunds from Sunday night's performance.  Dedication: Elton is scheduled to play two additional Auckland shows this week before heading back to Australia for another leg of final shows
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from "eltonjohntour" - Google News. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
Comments
Post a Comment