Elton John Postpones European Dates, Set For Hip Surgery

Elton John's oft-delayed Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour has hit yet another snag, with the “Rocketman” announcing his 2021 European dates will now be pushed back to 2023.

Elton took to social media and explained, “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I am forced to reschedule the 2021 dates. . . 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.”

He went on to say, “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.”

Elton, who like the entire rock community was forced to sit out the pandemic, throwing countless itineraries up in the air added, “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.”

He explained that one show that he would play would be a pre-arranged five-song set the Global Citizen festival set for this September 25th, saying, “It’s a very different physical undertaking to the demands of playing close to three hours every night. . . After this I will be having the operation to ensure the tour can get back on the road (in North America) in January of 2022 in New Orleans.”

Back in 2018, upon announcing his final trek, Elton explained to us why the tour will stand apart from all the other concerts played over his then-50-year-career: “It's going to be the most produced, fantastic show that I've ever done on the road. It's all around the world — every possible continent you can think of, I'm going to. It'll be a wonderful way to thank people. I'm not a person who cherishes Grammy's and things like that. I'm a person who cherishes gold records and platinum records because means that people have paid their hard-earned money to buy something that you've made and the other things are just, y'know, superfluous little trinkets.”