Matt Crossick/Press Association
Legendary music icon Elvis Costello had some very sad news to share with fans on Friday, July 6.
The singer took to his Facebook page to announce he has to cancel the remaining dates on his tour after being diagnosed with “very aggressive” cancer. “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,” the 63-year-old musician (born Declan Patrick MacManus) said. “I was elated and relieved that our European summer tour could go ahead. Post-surgical guidelines for such surgery, recommend three weeks to four weeks recovery depending on whether you are returning to a desk job or an occupation that involves physical work or travel.”
The 63-year-old still had tour dates in Austria, Croatia, Norway, Sweden and the U.K. but will not be able to perform as per doctor’s orders. “It was impossible to judge how this advisory would line up with the demands on a traveling musician, playing 90-minute to 2-hour plus performances on a nightly basis,” he wrote. By the time he reached the Edinburgh Playhouse, “I was almost fooled into thinking that normal service had been resumed,” he said. “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.” Though he would have loved to perform for his fans through July 16, Costello added, “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.”
He thanked many of his friends for their help and support and added, “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.”