ELO have been on their The Over And Out Tour, their farewell tour, which was set to wrap up this week in the UK. But at their show at Manchester’s Co-Op Live on Wednesday, founder and bandleader Jeff Lynne was in clear ill health, struggling to sing and had to be helped off stage. They then canceled Thursday’s show at the same venue just minutes before they were supposed to take the stage “due to illness.” Now Sunday’s show at London’s BST Hyde Park, billed as ELO’s last, releasing a statement saying that Lynne has been battling a “systemic infection.” Here’s the band’s full statement:
Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show.
Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.
The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today – and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.
We with Jeff a speedy and full recovery.
— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) July 12, 2025