An upbeat Paul McCartney arrives in Tokyo last week before being felled by a virus. Photo: AFP

New | Virus forces disappointed Paul McCartney to cancel Japanese tour

Published: 12:30pm, 20 May 2014

Former Beatle Paul McCartney has cancelled his Japanese tour due to illness, days after apologising to fans for missing a pair of weekend concerts.

The 71-year-old English pop veteran – one of two living members of 1960s pop sensations – had already cancelled performances at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday and Sunday after coming down with an unspecified virus.

He “will regrettably have to cancel the remaining Japanese shows. Paul is still not feeling better and this cancellation is unavoidable”, organiser Kyodo Tokyo said.

The music legend was “staying at a hotel in Tokyo and doctors are with him”, but added that it was “unclear” if he would still perform go ahead with a South Korean tour scheduled for May 28.

McCartney fans outside the National Stadium after the former Beatle cancelled his concert there. Photo: Reuters

McCartney had planned to play a concert at another venue in Tokyo tomorrow and the last one in Osaka on Saturday as part of his “Out There” world tour.

There were also plans for a Monday show to make up for the cancelled Saturday event.

Among McCartney’s dates in the Japanese capital was a show at the Nippon Budokan Hall, which would have marked his first return to the venue since appearing there with The Beatles in 1966.

“I was really looking forward to playing in Japan again after we had such an amazing time here in November,” McCartney said in a statement.

“So, to cancel these shows as well as the National Stadium shows is hugely disappointing for me as well.

“I’d like to thank my Japanese fans for their love, messages of support and understanding.

“I hope to see you all again soon. Love, Paul.”

In a tour of Japan in November, McCartney sang 39 songs non-stop without retreating backstage.

Major-selling newspaper the reported McCartney’s condition was improving but that he was still too unwell to perform.

Organisers said they were exploring “all possibilities” to reschedule the four-date Japan tour.

The musician flew into Tokyo after a short rest at home in London following a strenuous South American tour.

The Nippon Budokan Hall show had set aside 100 seats for fans under 25 at 1,500 yen (US$15) each, the same price as they were 48 years ago.

The rest of the tickets for the concert cost up to 100,000 yen.

Post