Canadian punk band Sum 41 have been forced to cancel their Australian tour just hours before the band’s first show Down Under.
Hitmakers In Too Deep were due to play the upcoming Good Things festival, as well as a series of side shows on what was to be their final Australian tour.
However, on the eve of their first show at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on Wednesday, it was announced that the show would not go ahead because frontman Deryck Whibley had contracted pneumonia.
Confirming the devastating news in a statement on social media, the band revealed that Deryck was receiving “the best possible care” but was unwell to perform on stage.
In an attempt to make up for the cancellation, support act Grandson Grandson played a free show at Brisbane venue The Outpost, which featured a DJ from Sum 41 drummer Frank Zummo.
The band have since confirmed that they also had to cancel their Good Things festival appearance on Friday and all of their remaining dates in Australia due to Deryck’s health.
Canadian punk band Sum 41 have been forced to cancel their Australian tour just hours before the band’s first show Down Under (pictured: frontman Deryck Whibley)
“It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce that our 2024 Australian tour cannot continue,” the band posted on Facebook in a follow-up statement Thursday.
“We were beyond excited to go on this tour from December 4-12 and connect with our Australian fans once again.
The band said they had followed the advice of medical professionals that Deryck was unfit to take the stage.
“However, now that we are here, and under the guidance and direction of several Australian doctors, it is clear that Deryck is not well enough to perform,” they wrote.
“We understand and appreciate your disappointment; we are devastated too.”
They urged Good Things ticket holders to continue attending the music festival and enjoy the other acts despite their absence.
“The good news is that the Good Things festival continues in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane this weekend with an incredible line-up of local and international acts,” they continued.
“We can’t be there, but we’ll get along and have the best time.”
On the eve of their first show at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall, it was announced that the show would not go ahead because frontman Deryck Whibley had contracted pneumonia (pictured with Jason McCaslin, Frank Zummo and Dave Baksh).
The band have had to cancel their appearance at Friday’s Good Things festival and all of their remaining dates in Australia due to Deryck’s health.
The post was met with an avalanche of comments from disappointed but empathetic fans.
‘Completely understandable! But it’s absolutely devastating for us here in the lowest corner of the world that many punk bands don’t visit,” one wrote.
“I wish Deryck a speedy recovery and as many have said, it would be great to have a live streamed show here before you’re done!”
Another chimed in with: ‘Absolutely gutted number one reason he was going to do good things was to see them live before he retired.’ Get well Deryck, the Australian fans support you.
Sum 41’s side shows in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney have been cancelled.
The Good Things Festival, which also includes the likes of Korn, The Violent Femmes and Mastadon on the line-up, is going ahead and will kick off at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on Friday 6 December.
It will then move to Sydney’s Centennial Park on Saturday 7 December and the Brisbane Showgrounds on Sunday 8 December.
Festival organizers said in a statement that Deryck’s health was the top priority.
“However, now that we are here, and under the guidance and direction of several Australian doctors, it is clear that Deryck is not well enough to perform,” they wrote in a statement.
“Under the guidance and direction of doctors in Australia, it has become clear that Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley is unwell to perform,” the statement read.
“Sum 41 is devastated not to be able to perform, and we fully understand and appreciate the fans’ disappointment.”
“However, Deryck’s health and well-being is the focus and priority, and we hope you will join us in sending him well wishes for his recovery.”
Sum 41 was initially formed in Ajax, Ontario, in 1996, and the group was originally known as Kaspir before their name was changed.
Currently, the group consists of singer and guitarist Deryck, who was married to Avril Lavigne from 2006 to 2010, guitarist Dave Baksh, multi-instrumentalist Tom Thacker, bassist Jason McCaslin and drummer Frank.
The band rose to prominence following the release of their 2001 single Fat Lip, which appeared on their debut album All Killer No Filler and eventually topped the Billboard US Alternative Airplay chart.
Sum 41 has released six albums since then, and the group’s most recent record, titled Order in Decline, made its debut in 2019.
The group was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2012 for their work on the song Blood in My Eyes, although they ultimately lost to Foo Fighters.