Elton John has had a rough year, after both enduring health issues regarding sickness and having been involved in an accident. The iconic musician fell and injured his hip earlier this summer, which left him in what he described as “considerable pain.” Fans have wondered about the ongoing status of Elton, and now new pictures of him have emerged. To that point, one detail has fans more than slightly worried as he was seen walking with the aid of a stick. Moreover, reports state that his friends are concerned about the future.
Through his social media channels, Elton announced that he’d been forced to push back the European tour dates of his tour to 2023. He recently suffered a hip injury, one that requires an operation.
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I am forced to reschedule the 2021 dates of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Europe and the U.K. to 2023,” Elton John wrote.
“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 worsen and leads to increasing difficulties moving. 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 clarified that he would still perform some songs at the Global Citizen Festival on September 25. He added that he doesn’t “want to let a charity down.” However, the performance was much shorter than the lengthy tour concerts.
“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,” John added in the announcement.”
He added, “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.”
Speaking on ITV shortly after giving the sad news of the tour’s postponement, Elton stated that he wouldn’t be able to do the gigs the way he wanted to because of the damage to his hip.
“I wouldn’t be 100 percent fit, I wouldn’t be 100 percent confident because I’m in pain most of the time with my hip,” John said.
“I can’t move sideways, I can’t get in and out of a car. And the decision had to be made because I wouldn’t wanna go on stage and give less than 100 percent.”
“And I don’t know – with a year and a half of touring to go – how long my hip would last. It probably wouldn’t. So better to get it done now,” he added. “Unfortunately, disappoint all the people this year, but I’ll make it up to them, and I’ll be in much better form.”
Since his last show, things have been relatively quiet surrounding the musician, and he hasn’t been seen in public. Fans worldwide are waiting for the day he can get back to touring. The radio silence was broken recently when they were given a glimpse of him up and about again.
That’s not to say, however, that the update was all positive.
On Wednesday, Elton was spotted at Windsor, where he was bestowed a rare royal honor and admitted to the Order of the Companions of Honour. He collected the award from Prince William in recognition of his tremendous music career and charity work surrounding AIDS.
Fans were quick to spot that John wasn’t seen or the first time using a walking stick. It comes just a month after Queen Elizabeth was pictured using a stick herself for the first time in public.
With that it mind, it seems like friends of John’s aren’t happy about his insistence of embarking on his final world tour.
Music colleagues of his – who’ve decided to remain anonymous – told the New York Post that they believe his decision might be the wrong one.
“He is not Superman. I wonder how he’s even getting insurance to do these gigs — can you imagine the premiums?” one musician who has known John for decades told The New York Post.
“He should be at home with his kids and his husband, not stuck on the road. I worry that he won’t finish this tour.”
“Why, why, why does Elton feel that he has to do this at this age?” the musician added. “There is only one reason: cash.”
As stated, John doesn’t need the money. Indeed, according to the man himself, however, it’s not all about that.
“I want to finish it in the right way and go out on a high note, but I also want to finish because I don’t want to do it again,” Elton told The Guardian.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 17 – I’ve had enough applause. I’ll be 76 when the tour finishes – who knows how much [time] I’ve got left? It will be spent with the kids, and with David, smelling the roses.”