Sir Rod Stewart has canceled and rescheduled six concerts in the United States scheduled for June as he continues recovering from the flu. The 80-year-old British rock legend said he was "devastated" by the decision to postpone the shows.
In a post on Instagram early Saturday, Stewart wrote: "I have to cancel and reschedule my next six concerts in June as I continue to recover from the flu. So sorry my friends. I'm devastated and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to my fans. I'll be back on stage and will see you soon."
Earlier in the week, Stewart had already canceled two concerts, including a performance at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, due to the viral illness. His latest announcement called off three additional shows at the Vegas venue, including one that had previously been rescheduled following a cancellation on Monday.
Two concerts scheduled in California have been moved to mid-September. These cancellations are part of what Stewart has described as his last "large-scale world tour."
The timing of the cancellations is particularly significant because Stewart is scheduled to perform at Glastonbury Festival later in June. He will play the coveted "legends" slot at the Pyramid stage on Sunday, June 29. This marks his return to the festival after headlining in 2002. Stewart will perform alongside his former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood, who is better known as a member of the Rolling Stones.
In an interview with That Peter Crouch Podcast, Stewart mentioned he had only been scheduled to play for one hour and fifteen minutes at Glastonbury. He expressed hope for additional time, noting: "But I've asked them: 'Please, another 15 minutes,' because I play for over two hours every night and it's nothing."
Stewart has experienced several health challenges recently. He canceled three concerts in January after contracting both strep throat and Covid in quick succession. Following a concert performance in May, he was photographed wearing a sign around his neck that read: "Sorry. Cannot talk. Having vocal rest."
The singer, who has sold over 250 million records worldwide throughout his more than five-decade career, remains an active touring performer despite these recent setbacks. He is known for numerous hit songs including "Maggie May," "Tonight's the Night," and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy."
Ticket holders for the canceled and rescheduled shows will be able to use their tickets for the new dates, though specific refund information has not yet been announced. Stewart has not released additional details about his recovery timeline or whether other international tour dates might be affected by his illness.