Sir Rod Stewart has cancelled two shows on his One Last Time tour after undergoing a minor medical procedure and being advised by doctors to rest.
The 81-year-old cancelled his performance at Riverbend Music Centre in Cincinnati on Aug 9 at the last minute after the procedure required “prompt attention”.
The venue said the concert would be rescheduled, with previously purchased tickets remaining valid. Stewart was expected to make a quick recovery.
However, his recovery took longer than expected, with his Aug 11 concert at Rocket Arena in Cleveland also cancelled.
“Following a period of monitoring, doctors have advised Rod Stewart to rest for at least 48 hours,” the venue said in a statement. Stewart apologised for missing the show and said he looked forward to returning to the stage. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.
This is not the first time health issues have disrupted Stewart’s touring schedule this year.
In June, he cancelled a show in Chula Vista, California, less than an hour before he was due to perform after being diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis and vocal fold strain. He later postponed shows at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre to rest his voice.
The cancellation drew criticism after Stewart was photographed travelling to Boston with his sons, Liam and Alastair, the following day to watch Scotland play Haiti in the FIFA World Cup. He later explained that he had promised to take his sons to a World Cup match and, while he felt well enough to travel, he was unable to sing.
Further concern arose during a June 19 concert in West Valley City, Utah, when Stewart became unsteady and briefly stopped the show to use an oxygen tank. He told the audience he had nearly fainted while dancing but resumed the performance, with the venue’s high altitude and hot weather thought to have contributed to his breathlessness.
Stewart appeared to be back on form on July 29, performing for about 90 minutes at an exclusive benefit for Steven Van Zandt’s TeachRock charity in Southampton, New York. He performed classics including ‘The First Cut Is the Deepest’, ‘Have I Told You Lately’ and ‘Forever Young’.
