Sir Elton John has postponed a number of upcoming dates on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour as he prepares to undergo surgery to repair a recent hip injury.
As the iconic performer explained in a post on his website, “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 in moving.”
He continued, “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,” he added. “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,” Elton acknowledged. “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 Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was initially announced in 2018 and was always intended to feature more than 300 shows continuing through at least 2021. After the years-long tour is over, the Rocket Man will land for good. As John explained when the tour was first announced, “I’m not going to say I’m retiring and then do a world tour. I’m not Cher.”
The final North American leg of the Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was initially slated to take place in 2020 before the pandemic prompted the famed singer/pianist to push those dates to 2021. The rescheduled dates will now run from January through April of 2022. Earlier this year, Elton John added an additional run of North American shows to his 2022 schedule, promising that these would indeed be his final shows in the U.S.
The run of European and U.K. Elton John dates postponed due his hip surgery recovery will now take place in 2023, following the final U.S. run. For an updated list of Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour dates, head here.