Jeff Lynne’s ELO cancel Manchester gig minutes before showtime
Jeff Lynne’s ELO has cancelled an eagerly anticipated gig in Manchester minutes before the performance was due to start.
The band had been on their Over and Out tour, crisscrossing around the world for what was set to be Lynne’s final official concert tour. Lynne also announced one final show, which was set to take place in Hyde Park on July 13th.
The band issued a statement regarding their cancellation online, saying, “Unfortunately due to illness, tonight’s scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne’s ELO at the Co-op Live will not be going ahead. Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening. More information will become available as soon as possible.”
Throughout the tour, Lynne has faced numerous complications when performing live. Aside from the Manchester concert, the opening of the band’s tour in Birmingham saw Lynne taking the stage without a guitar, having broken his hand before going on.
However, Lynne seemed determined to keep the show going on at all costs, telling the Birmingham crowd, “I’ve had a guitar in my hand all my life, but not tonight. Nothing would keep me away from you.”
There has been no word on how the frontman injured his hand. On guitar duties that night was George Harrison’s son, Dhani, who played through a cover of the iconic Traveling Wilburys song, ‘Handle With Care’.
Despite the cancellation, there has been no word as to whether the band will play Hyde Park on their scheduled date on July 13th. In a statement at the start of the tour, Lynne discussed how important it was for him to finish in Hyde Park, saying, “My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014. It seems like the perfect place to do our final show. We couldn’t be more excited to share this special night in London with our UK fans.”
While the band have given up the road, Lynne says that he plans to continue his production career full-time. Aside from being the mastermind behind all of ELO’s greatest albums, Lynne was known for working his magic for some of the biggest names in classic rock, from Tom Petty to George Harrison to eventually working on The Beatles Anthology by helping restore their tracks ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love’.
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