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Jeff Lynne Cancels Manchester Concert Minutes Before Scheduled Start

by Best Classic Bands Staff

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Jeff Lynne was seated during the closing number, “Mr. Blue Sky,” during the July 9, 2025, performance in Manchester, U.K.

Jeff Lynne cancelled the second of two concerts in Manchester, U.K. on Thursday (July 10, 2025), minutes before it was scheduled to start. The performance by Jeff Lynne’s ELO, as the band has been known for a decade, was to be the fourth of five concerts of the brief U.K. leg of his “Over and Out” tour. Lynne’s Facebook page indicated that the cancellation was “due to illness,” adding, “Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening.” Social media reports from fans already in the venue—Co-op Live— noted that the announcement of the cancellation was made in the arena with less than an hour before the scheduled showtime.

The concert that never was. Cancelled with 45mins to go get well soon Jeff Lynne @JeffLynnesELO @TheCoopLive @clarkokg pic.twitter.com/hL9mO5D9s6

— Hannah Clarkson (@_HannahClarkson) July 10, 2025

The brief tour began on Saturday (July 5) with the first of two shows at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, Lynne’s hometown. [Read our recap here.] Fans were surprised to see the maestro with a bandage on his left hand. He was unable to play guitar due to a broken hand he suffered as a passenger in a taxi that slammed on its brakes to avoid an accident. “I’ve had a guitar in my hand my entire life, but not tonight,” he said. “But nothing could keep me away from you,” he said. As the crowd roared, he offered his trademark thumbs up with both hands.

Jeff Lynne revealing his broken hand that prevented him from playing guitar at his July 5, 2025, concert in Birmingham.

However, towards the end of Wednesday’s concert in Manchester, Lynne, looking noticeably weaker, ultimately sat in a chair during the last few songs. It appeared that he had difficulty singing “Mr. Blue Sky,” the evening’s final song, as many fans speculated afterwards about his health beyond his broken hand.

Best Classic Bands’ founder was in attendance at the final U.S. concert for Jeff Lynne’s ELO on October 29, 2024. [Read our review here.] Watch our video recording of the performance of “Mr. Blue Sky” from that show.

Lynne turned 77 on December 30, 2024. The final concert is scheduled for Sunday, July 13 in London, where he’ll headline a Hyde Park concert. That star-studded show also features the Doobie Brothers, Steve Winwood and Dhani Harrison.