Elvis Costello has announced a bit of sad news today; following a rare cancer diagnosis and surgery recently, he had tried to get on the road sooner than his doctors would have ideally hoped he would be. He published a lengthy note on his pages.
I have to thank our friends attending last night’s show in Amsterdam and those in Antwerp, Glynde and at Newcastle City Hall for bearing me up. The spirit has been more than willing but I have to now accept that it is going to take longer than I would have wished for me to recover my full strength. Therefore, I must reluctantly cancel all the remaining engagements of this tour.
Ticket holders should go to point of purchase for refunds.
It’s interesting how the message even began:
Six weeks ago my specialist called me and said, “You should start playing the Lotto”. He had rarely, if ever, seen such a small but very aggressive cancerous malignancy that could be defeated by a single surgery.
I was elated and relieved that our European summer tour could go ahead.
He goes on to say that he thought he’d be fine to wait a few weeks and feel recovered but the demands of a touring musician playing 90+ minute shows would be too much.
My apologies go to our ticket holders in Manchester, Pula, Graz, Vienna, Tysnes and Rattvik but I would rather disappoint our friends there by not appearing than in pressing on with a show that is compromised and eventually puts my health at risk.
Don’t worry fans, he’s leaving us all with some good news.
To leave you with some more optimistic news, The Imposters and I – together with several of our other friends – have made a magnificent new record of which we are truly proud. It will be issued in October, I believe. We will return at the soonest opportunity to play that music and your favourite songs that still make sense to us all.
Take very good care of your loved ones but Gentleman, do talk to you friends – you’ll find you are not alone – seek your doctor’s advice if you are in doubt or when it is timely and act as swiftly as you may in these matters. It may save your life. Believe me, it is better than playing roulette.
Yours through music. Elvis Costello
Here are the dates affected:
June
Wed 27th UK, Southend, Cliffs Pavilions
Thu 28th UK, Plymouth, Plymouth Pavilions
July
Fri 6th UK, Manchester, Castlefield Bowl
Sun 8th CROATIA, Pula, Pula Arena
Mon 9th AUSTRIA, Graz, Kasematten – Schlossberguhne
Weds 11th AUSTRIA, Vienna, Konzerthaus
Sat 14th NORWAY, Tysnes, Tysnesfest Gjesrstad Arena
Mon 16th SWEDEN, Rattvik, Dalhalla
