Elton John has announced he has to postpone his remaining 2021 farewell tour dates after sustaining a hip injury after a fall.
This postponement means that his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour dates in Dublin's 3Arena and Belfast's SSE Arena will now take place in 2023. The Dublin concert will now take place on Tuesday March 28th 2023 and the Belfast show will happen on Wednesday March 29th 2023. All tickets remain valid for the new dates.
In a statement, the 74-year-old said, "It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I am forced to reschedule the 2021 dates of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Europe and the UK to 2023.
"At the end of my summer break I fell awkwardly on a hard surface and have been in considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since. Despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving.
"I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications. I will be undertaking a program of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and a return to full mobility without pain.
"I am going to complete the charitable Global Citizen event on 25th September as I don't want to let a charity down. Being just five songs it's a very different physical undertaking to the demands of playing for close to three hours every night on tour and travelling overnight between countries. After this I will be having the operation to ensure the tour can get back on the road in January of 2022 in New Orleans.
"I know how patient my incredible fans have been since Covid halted touring last year, and it breaks my heart to keep you waiting any longer. I completely feel your frustrations after the year we’ve had. I promise you this - the shows will return to the road next year and I will make sure they are more than worth the wait."
The tour will recommence on January 19th 2022 in New Orleans and will now run until the summer of 2023. His Cork concert at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Friday July 1st 2022 will not be changed.
