Deep Purple cancel Leipzig and Hamburg, Gillan in hospital
The band said on Saturday that it cannot play Leipzig and Hamburg because of an urgent medical problem involving its singer. Tickets stay valid for new dates, which are not yet known.
The announcement came on the very day the concert was due to start. On Saturday, October 31, Deep Purple said on its official Instagram profile that it would not play the QI Arena in Leipzig that evening, nor the Sporthalle in Hamburg the next day, because singer Ian Gillan had been rushed to hospital.
The band began with what it cannot do: “With great disappointment, DEEP PURPLE must announce that they are unable to perform as planned.” Then it gave the reason: “The reason is a medical emergency concerning Ian Gillan, which has led to his current hospitalization.”
Gillan is 81, and nothing more is known about his condition. The statement gave no details about what led to the hospitalization, so for now all that is clear is that the singer remains in hospital.
What did the band tell its fans?
The members also addressed ticket holders, aware that the notice was arriving at the last moment. The statement reads:
“We understand that this announcement comes at the last minute, and we share the disappointment of all our wonderful fans that we will not be able to perform in Leipzig and Hamburg.”
The band added that it and its team are “focused on finding a suitable date to reschedule both of these shows,” and that “all purchased tickets will be valid for the new dates.” No new dates had been announced by the time this article was published.
Where does the tour go next?
According to the portal Balkan Rock, the tour is due to continue on November 3 in Dortmund. The venue was not named, and it is not confirmed whether Gillan will be well enough to sing by then, since the band said nothing on that point.
What happened in Belgrade?
The cancelled shows belong to the same European tour, “Mad In Europe,” on which the band played Belgrade’s Arena in mid-October. The British band Dzejler opened that evening. Deep Purple also recently released a new album, “SPLAT!”
The lineup on the tour is Ian Gillan on vocals, Roger Glover on bass, Ian Paice on drums, Don Airey on keyboards and Simon McBride on guitar. Gillan is the only member the statement mentions by name.
Everything the band is claiming so far sits in a single statement: two concerts are cancelled, the singer is in hospital, and new dates are still being sought.
