Elton John Cancels Concerts: ‘Deadly Infection’

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Elton John (Photo from his Facebook page)

A “rare and potentially deadly” infection has caused Elton John to cancel all of his planned concerts until early June. According to a statement issued by John’s representative, the singer/musician/songwriter became “violently ill” during a return flight from Santiago, Chile, after contracting the bacterial infection while touring in South America.

“Upon returning to the U.K., Elton’s doctors admitted him to [the] hospital, where he underwent immediate treatment to remove the infection,” the statement said.

John was released on Saturday (April 22) and is now resting at home. His representative said that John is “expected to make a full recovery.”

The actual cause of John’s illness and its precise effects have not been revealed. Today, John tweeted, “Woke up to an avalanche of well wishes. Thanks to everyone for reaching out. I’m resting well and looking forward to getting back on tour.”

Among the canceled shows are John’s entire run of “Million Dollar Piano” shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, as well as a performance in Bakersfield, Calif., on May 6.

This latest health scare is not John’s first. In 2009 he was infected with the E. coli bacteria; he also had a respiratory infection in 2012 and was hospitalized with appendicitis in 2013.

John, who turned 70 years old on March 25, is expected to return to the stage in London on June 3, to perform at Twickenham Stadium.

Elton John (backdrop) invites audience members to surround him onstage at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Dec. 28, 2016 (Photo by Jeff Tamarkin)

In BCB’s review of a Las Vegas show last December, our reviewer wrote, “Elton John has aged admirably and with grace. Unlike some of his peers, he doesn’t attempt to be who he was at 25. He still loves a touch of the flash—he emerged to the familiar fanfare of “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” wearing a white cape Liberace would’ve envied, then shed it to reveal his usual natty, sparkly, dark suit (and glittery orange shoes to match)—but he channels most of his exuberance into the playing and singing. John always has been a virtuosic rock pianist and, if anything, he’s gotten even better at it—more nuanced and imaginative on the fly, fearless in his willingness to go deeper and to take great leaps, but smart enough to know when to reel it in. His voice, like that of any older singer, has lost a little range, but none of its distinctiveness. He sounded exactly how you’d want Elton John delivering a greatest-hits show to sound, and those songs, so timeless, all hold up well.”

Watch Elton John perform “Tiny Dancer” in April