Istanbul cancelled *updated*
After canceling last nights show in Athens at the last minute, Purple Concerts, the band’s promoter in Turkey has announced that tomorrow’s show in Istanbul will also be canceled. A full Associated Press report, as well as the official statement from DepecheMode.com is posted below.
ATHENS, Greece – Depeche Mode lead singer David Gahan is not well enough to perform in Athens on Wednesday, concert organizers said, a day after he was rushed to hospital moments before he was to appear on stage.
Turkish organizers also canceled the band’s Thursday night concert in Istanbul.
Tuesday night’s concert north of the Greek capital was canceled after Gahan, who turned 47 last week, fell ill and was hospitalized overnight. Neither organizers nor the hospital would say what he was suffering from.
About 20,000-30,000 fans who had turned up to hear the British band were told to retain their tickets in case the singer was well enough to reschedule the concert for the following day.
But concert organizers Didi Music later issued an announcement Wednesday saying the singer was still unable to perform.
“Even though everyone hoped for the singer’s speedy recovery and the rescheduling of the band’s show for today … according to the information received by the band’s management and the doctor on duty, the artist’s health condition does not allow it,” the organizers said.
Turkish organizers also announced late Wednesday that they were canceling the band’s Istanbul concert.
“Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Depeche Mode concert will not take place on May 14,” the organizers, Purple Concerts, said in a statement on their Web site.
Purple Concerts was not immediately reachable, but Turkey’s Anatolia news agency said Gahan would go to the United States for treatment and that concerts in Bucharest, Romania, on Saturday and Sofia, Bulgaria, next Monday might also be canceled.
The band’s publicists in London gave no information on whether any other dates on Depeche Mode’s tour would be affected. After Bulgaria, the band is scheduled to play in Belgrade, Serbia, next Wednesday, followed by concerts in Croatia and Poland. Depeche Mode arrived in Greece after playing in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday.
The British band emerged in the early 1980s, releasing 46 singles and a dozen albums.
Associated Press via Yahoo! News
Due to illness of singer Dave Gahan the Depeche Mode show in Istanbul on May 14th is cancelled.
Dave was taken ill shortly before he was due to take the stage in Athens on May 12th, which resulted in his hospitalisation and cancellation of the show.
A new announcement will follow soon with regard to a either a new rescheduled date for this Depeche Mode Istanbul concert, or it’s final cancellation. Organisers kindly request that ticket holders keep hold of their tickets, which will be valid if a new show date is scheduled, or will be refunded in the event that the show is cancelled altogether.
(updated to add www.depechemode.com statement)