Jeff Lynne has been forced to pull out BST Hyde Park after this weekend after falling ill.
The 77-year-old music legend’s team had previously disclosed that he was unwell.
A statement released on Saturday confirmed the unfortunate news, stating: “Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show.
“Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.
“The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today — and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.”
A spokesperson had previously assured that the concert would proceed as planned for this Sunday, asserting there were “no concerns”. The sold-out headline slot at the London music festival on Sunday had been billed by the organisers as their final “goodbye”.
This development follows the band’s cancellation of their Thursday night performance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live due to “illness”. A fan who attended the ELO gig a day before the cancellation told the Mirror: “At the start of the set he came on and couldn’t play the guitar because he has injured his hand. He sounded shaky to begin with but his singing and energy picked up and was great until the last 10 minutes of the show”, reports the Mirror.
(Image: GETTY)
ELO’s lead singer Jeff Lynne sparked concerns about his health during a concert in Glasgow, as he was forced to sit down to perform the final songs of the set. A source in attendance revealed: “A chair was brought onto the stage and he had to sit down to sing the last few songs, he appeared to be unsteady on his feet at the end and was helped off the stage by staff. He really wasn’t well, it was obvious to fans at the gig he wasn’t himself and it is sad to see.”
ELO, which was formed in Birmingham in the 1970s by Jeff and keyboardist Roy Wood, has undergone changes over the years, including Roy’s departure and replacement by Richard Tandy, who sadly passed away last year at the age of 76. The band, known for their unique blend of classical music, Beatles-inspired pop, and futuristic rock visuals, disbanded in 1986.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
