Deep Purple have called off the remaining dates on their European tour after a medical emergency forced singer Ian Gillan to seek hospital treatment.
The band initially canceled two shows — October 31 at the QI Arena in Leipzig, Germany, and November 1 at Hamburg’s Sporthalle — after announcing that Gillan had been hospitalized. On November 2, the 81-year-old singer confirmed that the rest of the European and U.K. dates on the band’s Splat! tour would be postponed indefinitely.
In a statement shared on social media, Gillan thanked fans for their support and explained that continuing the tour would pose a serious risk to his health.
“I had a medical problem whilst in Leipzig which required urgent attention at the hospital,” he wrote. “I was hoping that I would get the all clear to hang on until the end of the tour, but there are very serious risks involved in me doing so.
“As a result, and on the advice of my medical team and management we have made the decision to postpone the rest of the European/UK tour until further notice.
“I’m very sorry about any inconvenience this may cause, but it’s in the best interest all round.”
The singer closed by thanking fans for their understanding.
The cancellation comes as Gillan has been increasingly candid about the physical challenges of continuing to perform at his age. Speaking last fall to Jono and Nats on Dubai 92’s The Big Breakfast, he was asked whether Deep Purple had considered an endpoint for a career now spanning six decades.
“Well, no one’s really thought it through. We don’t talk about it that much,” he replied. “And as life gets on, the end is nearer than the beginning, that’s for sure. We all know that. But at the moment we’re getting a lot of joy from what we’re doing.
“I think probably human dignity is gonna be the deciding factor. Once you start going out and embarrassing people with your inability to do what you’ve done all your life, then it’s time to stop,” he said. “But until that moment arrives, then we’re going good. And the band is hard and mean and hungry at the moment. I’ve never felt it so tight.”
In a separate interview with Uncut magazine, Gillan offered a more sobering assessment of the challenges he faces.
“I’ve only got 30 percent vision,” he said. “That won’t get better. It makes life mysterious. The hardest thing is working on my laptop. I can’t see anything on the screen unless I use my peripheral vision; I pick up a line by looking at it sideways. But you find a way. You adapt. But it’s achingly tiresome. It takes a long time to do the work.”
Asked about the prospect of retirement, Gillan suggested that his energy level would ultimately determine when he steps away.
“I think if I lose my energy I’m going to stop. I don’t want to be an embarrassment to anyone. We’re not far off that. It creeps up on you — you don’t really notice.”
