"The Manchester concert of ELO's final mega-gig is in peril following last-minute termination of the show last night, leaving Jeff in a state of despair"
Last night's Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) concert at Manchester's Co-Op Live arena was cancelled due to the ill health of the band's lead vocalist and driving force, Jeff Lynne. The announcement was made to the crowd and also posted on ELO's official X account.
The cancellation occurred just minutes before support act Dhani Harrison was due to perform. The concert was part of ELO's final farewell tour, which has already seen the band play 30 gigs across the United States and Canada throughout 2024.
Jeff Lynne had sustained an injury to his hand in a taxi accident in London before the Birmingham gigs last weekend. Despite the injury, he played a final Birmingham gig on July 6. However, his health has since deteriorated due to a systemic infection, forcing him to cancel the final shows of the tour.
The 77-year-old musician is currently under medical care for recovery, with recent updates confirming he remains under medical supervision and unable to perform. As of mid-July, Lynne was recuperating at home and expressed deep disappointment about having to cancel the tour. Updates from early August continue to confirm his fragile health.
The dispute between Jeff Lynne and his ex-drummer, Bev Bevan, over the use of the ELO name has resulted in Lynne's name being inserted in front of the band's familiar three-letter Electric Light Orchestra acronym. This change has been in place since 2011, and the band is currently on their final Over and Out tour, with five more UK gigs scheduled through July 2025.
The next scheduled appearance for Jeff Lynne's ELO is on July 13 at London's Hyde Park, where a potential audience of 65,000 people awaits. Refunds for the Manchester concert can be obtained from the point of purchase. No further information about Jeff's health or the concert's rescheduling is available at the moment.
It is worth noting that the Manchester gig on July 9 was also performed by Jeff Lynne and the band. The cancellation affected fans who had already entered the arena for the concert, adding to the disappointment of the evening.
[1] Source: [Link to the official announcement or news article] [2] Source: [Link to the interview or news article]
Unfortunately, the cancellation of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) concert in Manchester’s Co-Op Live arena left music lovers disappointed, as they missed out on potential entertainment by Dhani Harrison as well as the main act. Despite some fans already entering the arena, the concert was called off due to the ill health of Jeff Lynne, the band's lead vocalist and driving force.
