ELO’s Jeff Lynne issues message to fans after BST gig cancellation over illness
Electric Light Orchestra’s Jeff Lynne has thanked fans for their support after he pulled out of last night’s BST Hyde Park gig due to illness.
The frontman, 77, worried fans last week when he appeared unsteady on stage in Birmingham and he went on to cancel a Manchester gig followed by the London show due to take place on Sunday July 13, which was billed as their final ever UK gig.
Sharing a video of fans singing along to Mr Blue Sky in Hyde Park yesterday in replacement of their much-anticipated goodbye gig, Jeff thanked fans and added: ‘#Overandout.’
While no dates are listed on their Over and Out tour, whether ELO will do a final UK gig remains unclear.
Having previously told Metro ELO’s performance would be going ahead, BST organisers said in a statement on Saturday: ‘Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show.
It continued: ‘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.’
Reacting to the cancellation, fans took to social media with their well-wishes.
@Covbluenose said: ‘So so sad. Jeff Lynne has been a titan of popular music and does not deserve to go out like this. I hope he can get back to good enough health to do one last show because it is clear this is hurting him badly.’
@Nicki_Chapman added: So sadly no @JeffLynnesELO tonight as JeffLynne is unwell. This gig was going to be one of the highlights of my summer. His music was the soundtrack to my youth Wishing you a speedy recovery Sir. ‘Shining’ a little love (on your life)!’
Jeff cancelled a gig on Thursday July 10 in Manchester as fans piled into the Co-Op Live Arena, having performed that week with a broken hand following an incident in London with a taxi.
Manchester Evening News reports that he explained on stage on July 9: ‘I was in London and a taxi dashed off from where he was coming from and smashed my hand. It really hurt at the time. That’s why I haven’t got a guitar – I normally would have.’
Fans reported that Jeff ‘asked to sit down’ towards the end of his first Manchester show on July 9, while he ‘struggled’ to keep himself on the chair as he slid down.
‘He missed a few bits in Mr Blue Sky (though was still amazing to his credit). Crew and band helped him off stage at the end,’ X user @Emilkywayz continued.
@DRClaireFox agreed that he ‘looked very unwell’ at the end of Wednesday’s gig, while @DaydreamerDotty, who was in the second row, said they ‘could see that Jeff started to look a bit unwell’.
Electric Light Orchestra was founded in Birmingham in 1970 by frontman Jeff and keyboardist Roy Wood.
Roy later left the group and was replaced by Richard Tandy, who had been the bassist but became the keyboardist until he died last year at the age of 76.
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