Rock band Depeche Mode, which has already cancelled a string of concerts, has been forced to cancel or reschedule several more due to lead singer Dave Gahan’s severe bout of gastroenteritis. The attack led to nearly 10 concert cancellations during the May leg of the band’s Tour of the Universe.
However, more recent medical tests uncovered a low-grade malignant tumor in Gahan’s bladder, which has been removed successfully. Under doctor’s orders, the vocalist is to be off the road to realize a full recovery. The group will return to the road on June 8 for their show in Leipzig, GER. As a result, seven upcoming concerts have been cancelled, postponed or rescheduled.
The band’s May 30 concert at London’s O2 Arena will be rescheduled at a future date, while their May 31 appearance at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, HOL, is cancelled. A June 2 show at HSN Nordbank Arena in Hamburg, GER, has been rescheduled for July 1, and rescheduled dates for their June 4-5 concerts at LTU Arena in Dusseldorf, GER, will be announced in July.
The June 7 opener of Depeche Mode’s two-date run in Leipzig, GER, is cancelled, but tickets for that show can be exchanged for either the June 8 Leipzig show, which is still a go, or the June 10 show in Berlin, GER, as ticket availability permits.
The band’s July 2 show in Bergen, NOR, has been pushed back to January 28, 2010, at Vestlandhallen. The fate of previous postponements for shows on May 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 27 are yet to be determined.
Refunds are being offered for all cancelled shows. Tickets to any postponed dates will be honored as rescheduled concerts are confirmed.
“David Gahan sincerely thanks his fans for their support, understanding and patience,” the band said in a statement. “Depeche Mode deeply regrets any problems or inconvenience the cancellations and postponements may have caused.”
