Rod Stewart viral infection cancels A Day on the Green concert with Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens
Rod Stewart has taken to social media to apologize to fans after his Geelong gig was canceled less than three hours before it was due to start.
The veteran British rocker, 78, was set to perform alongside Cyndi Lauper at Victoria’s Mt Duneed Estate.
However, a Facebook post from the organizers shortly before the show was due to start announced that it was canceled ‘due to illness’ – drawing anger from ticket holders.
On Saturday night, Stewart took to Instagram to apologize for the cancellation and reveal that a viral infection had left his throat too sore to sing.
‘Hello friends. I am absolutely dejected to disappoint my fans who bought tickets to A Day on the Green,” he wrote.
“Late this morning I was told I have a viral infection and my throat is too irritated to sing. I’m only human and sometimes I get sick just like you.
“My greatest pleasure is performing for you, so I’m doing everything I can to get better and get back on stage.”
Rod Stewart has apologized to fans after his Geelong gig was canceled less than three hours before it was due to start because he couldn’t sing due to a viral infection
Devastated: However, the rock legend took to his Instagram on Saturday to give his fans some clarity on why the show was canceled at the last minute
Furious Rod Stewart fans learned his Geelong gig had been canceled less than three hours before the curtain on Friday, with the devastated concertgoers only being notified via social media (Rod is pictured in Melbourne on March 14)
The cancellation was announced on Facebook and many cardholders wondered why they hadn’t received an email or text message
In a statement announcing the cancellation, organizers previously said, “Live Nation and Roundhouse Entertainment regret to announce that tonight’s performance by Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens at Mt. Duneed Estate, Geelong canceled due to illness’. read statement.
We apologize for the disappointment and inconvenience to cardholders.
An announcement regarding the concert arrangements will now be made early next week.
Devastated attendees erupted in anger at the news of the cancellation.
Many had flown interstate for the gig, while others said they were only temporarily in Geelong and would not be able to attend a rescheduled gig.
‘Perhaps a text message to the cardholders would be nice. Not everyone has Facebook,” one wrote.
“A text this morning would have been nice before we traveled down from Melbourne,” said another.
The veteran British rocker, 78, was set to perform alongside Cyndi Lauper at the Mt Duneed Estate in Victoria, but a Facebook post from A Day on the Green at 1.30pm on Friday revealed it was off
Hundreds of disappointed fans flocked to the comments below the post, with many wondering why the cancellation had only been shared on social media
“Why didn’t Ticketmaster send an email to notify people? This is so frustrating I’m devastated,” said a third person.
‘Flown from Hobart to see Rod, how can we get back? The VO! We bought these tickets for my mom as a gift because it’s her dream,” said another.
A fifth person wrote: ‘I hope their insurance covers our accommodation and day off. No email notification to ticket holders. Finally got an email at 1:52 PM, 63 minutes before the bus was supposed to pick us up at the hotel.’
Another commented, “Why didn’t I get a message? Facebook is not good enough, I’m already in Geelong. Drove from Melbourne this morning and paid $400 for accommodation.’
However, a spokesperson for Roundhouse Entertainment says those who brought tickets through Ticketmaster have been notified of the cancellation.
In conversation with De Geelong AdvertiserMichael Newton said, “Emails and texts were sent to all ticket buyers earlier today via Ticketmaster.”
Hundreds of devastated said it was their ‘dream’ to see Rod Stewart (above) perform and were gutted that the event was canceled just hours before
“We worked as quickly as possible to get the word out to everyone as soon as we were told tonight’s show is off and we started spreading information within 15 minutes of being notified ourselves.”
He added that they “understand that people” are traveling from all over the state and need to be “informed as soon as possible.”
A concertgoer revealed to the newspaper that she had flown from McKay, Queensland and spent more than $800 on travel.
“I had tickets for the 2020 concert, (it was) rescheduled and then canceled due to Covid, I lost money on flights,” she said.
“This time flights cost $800, I’m lucky I never paid for accommodation because I’m staying with relatives,” she said.
Many fans were outraged, saying they had lost money on travel and accommodation
The trio are scheduled to perform in Adelaide on Tuesday and it is currently unclear if that show will go ahead.
They will then head to Mt Cotton in Queensland on March 25-26 before flying to Sydney on March 29.
The tour continues for the final two shows in New South Wales, with one on April 1 in Hunter Valley and the final on April 2 in Bowral.
However, dozens of fans sent Stewart well wishes, saying they would still make the most of the weekend.
Stewart is the latest in a long line of international stars to cancel their Australian tour dates
“Hopefully they recover quickly. So many people who show no compassion. They are humans, not robots. Not much love is shown by fans,” one commenter wrote.
“It’s so scorching hot and windy, it’s probably a blessing. Now the five of us girls are going out for dinner in Torquay while we’re here for a girls weekend! We hope the artists feel better soon,” said another.
‘Shame! I hope he feels better as soon as possible and that the weather is great for next time,” a third person wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the organizers of A Day on the Green for comment.
Stewart is the latest in a long line of international stars to cancel their Australian tour dates.
Justin Bieber infuriated fans after canceling his Justice World Tour dates in Australia and New Zealand earlier this month.
In November, Michael Bublé canceled his Aussie tour several weeks before it was due to begin.
The same month, Megan thee Stallion disappointed thousands of fans after she pulled out of Festival X in Australia just days before her scheduled performance.
In a third blow in November, KISS were forced to cancel their Australian tour just days before they were due to perform in Adelaide.
In September, British rapper Stormzy canceled the Australian and New Zealand legs of his tour and pulled out of his headline performance at Spilled Milk Festival.
But the 29-year-old said he had to cancel due to “circumstances beyond his control,” with rising American star Steve Lacy replacing him at Spilled Milk.
American rapper Polo G withdrew from the Listen Out festival in September.
Half of the English electro duo Disclosure also withdrew from Listen Out to ‘take care of his mental health’.
Elsewhere, Nigerian singer Burna Boy canceled his Sydney performances within days of announcing it.
Alanis Morissette canceled her tour after postponing it three times in June, while Snoop Dogg canceled his Aussie tour in May.