Ringo Starr announced Saturday he would be unable to play at Michigan’s Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo due to an undisclosed illness. The announcement was made hours before the scheduled tour stop. Starr was quick to assure fans that he wasn’t sick from COVID.
In a statement released by the venue, Starr’s team said the 82-year-old could not continue since the illness affected his voice.
“Ringo is sick and was hoping he could carry on, hence the late decision, but it has affected his voice so tonight’s show, scheduled to begin in a few hours is canceled,” read the announcement posted to the casino’s Facebook. Fans can pursue refunds if they wish, however, the note also advises ticket holders to wait until further information is provided, which may mean a rescheduled date; the announcement uses both the words “postponement” and “canceled.”
Starr & His All-Starr Band, which includes Toto’s Steve Lukather, Men at Work’s Colin Hay, Average White Band’s Hamish Stuart and Edgar Winter, have also canceled their Sunday night gig at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Minnesota. A new date for this concert is expected to be announced shortly, with all original tickets valid for the new date.
Starr announced the cancellation of these North American gigs in June after Winter and Lukather were diagnosed with COVID.
However, the band and Starr are already on the road for the rescheduled dates, which are set to conclude on Oct. 20 at Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional. For more information, see Starr’s website.