Flu Knocks Out Elton's Tour

The knighted John postpones more concert dates from his Red Piano tour after contracting E. coli and the flu

By Brandi Fowler Nov 01, 2009 6:00 PMTags
Elton JohnJo Hale/Getty Images

Ticket holders for Elton John's Red Piano tour will have to have to wait a little longer to see the Grammy winner tickle his famed ivories. 

The 62-year-old "Rocket Man" crooner was forced to cancel several concerts in the U.K. and Ireland and postpone three stateside gigs after he was doubly hit with an E. coli bacterial infection and the flu (the normal, not swine variety) last week. 

John's doctor advised him to postpone dates in Seattle and Portland scheduled for early November to allow for more recovery time, according to a statement on the singer's official website

"Promoter Live Nation, The KeyArena and The Rose Garden were informed by management that Elton has been advised by his doctor to postpone these performances due to a serious case of e-coli bacterial infection and influenza," the statement said.

Sir Elton is being treated at King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, London, according to the Daily Mail. The veteran performer was taken there Friday after his condition worsened and he was forced to cancel another performance in Dublin. 

John's spokesman said Friday the singer was "bitterly disappointed not to [play] Dublin. He had picked Dublin to close the Red Piano worldwide, because of the great warmth of the people and the great concerts he had in the city over many years. He is hoping to reschedule the dates in the very near future." 

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