The final ever ELO concert canceled due to Jeff Lynne's illness

The band's "Over and Out" tour began life as a North American tour in 2024, but it went well enough a European jag was added for 2025. It was all to culminate at Hyde Park in London. However, the band had to cancel a show in Manchester on July 10, and then the final shot of ELO's final tour was also canceled. Pitchfork received a statement related to the cancellation which reads as follows:

Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible time nor will he be able to reschedule. The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today, and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.

One is left to wonder if, when healthy, Lynne decides to play one last hurrah of an ELO show. Unfortunately, and morbidly, when a 77-year-old man is "battling a systemic infection," perhaps we do need to say "if and when he gets healthy." Lynne has had an impressive career, and it would be a shame if it ended with the ultimate whimper: concert cancellation.

(h/t Pitchfork)