Rod Stewart took to social media to apologize to fans after his Geelong concert was canceled less than three hours before it was due to start.
The veteran British rocker, 78, was due to perform at the Mt Duneed Estate in Victoria alongside Cyndi Lauper.
However, a Facebook post from the organizers shortly before the show was to begin announced that it would not take place “due to illness”, prompting the fury of ticket holders.
On Saturday night, Stewart took to Instagram to apologize for the cancellation, revealing that a viral infection had made her throat too sore to sing.
‘Hello my friends. I am absolutely bummed to disappoint my fans who purchased A Day on the Green tickets,” he wrote.
‘I was informed this morning that I have a viral infection and my throat is too sore to sing. I’m only human and sometimes I get sick just like you.
“My greatest joy is performing for you, so I’m doing everything I can to recover and get back on stage.”
Rod Stewart has apologized to fans after his Geelong concert was canceled less than three hours before it was due to start because he was unable to sing due to a viral infection.
Devastated: However, the rock legend took to his Instagram on Saturday to give his fans some clarity as to why the show was canceled at the last minute.
Angry Rod Stewart fans have discovered that his Geelong concert was canceled less than three hours before Friday’s curtain call, with devastated attendees only notified via social media (Rod appears in Melbourne on March 14).
The cancellation was announced on Facebook, and many ticket holders wondered why an email or text message was not sent to them.
In a statement announcing the cancellation, the organizers previously said: “Live Nation and Roundhouse Entertainment regret to announce that tonight’s performance by Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens at the Mt. Duneed Estate, Geelong will not take place due to illness.” . statement read.
We apologize for the disappointment and inconvenience to ticket holders.
An announcement about the concert arrangements will be made early next week.
Devastated attendees erupted in anger at the news of the cancellation.
Many had flown interstate for the concert, while others said they were only in Geelong temporarily and would not be able to attend a rescheduled concert.
‘Maybe it would be nice to text ticket holders. Not everyone has Facebook,” wrote one person.
“Text this morning would have been nice before traveling from Melbourne,” said another.
The veteran British rocker, 78, was due to perform at the Mt Duneed Estate in Victoria alongside Cyndi Lauper, but a Facebook post from A Day on the Green at 1:30pm on Friday revealed he was not going ahead.
Hundreds of disappointed fans flocked to the comments below the post with many questioning why the cancellation had only been shared on social media.
‘Why hasn’t Ticketmaster sent an email to let people know? This is so frustrating that I am devastated,” a third person commented.
‘I flew in from Hobart to see Rod, how can we get back now? Devo! We bought these tickets for my mother as a gift as it is her dream,” said another.
A fifth person wrote: ‘I hope your insurance covers our accommodation and the day off. There is no email notification to ticket holders. I ended up getting an email at 1:52 pm, 63 minutes before the bus was due to pick us up at the hotel.
Another commented: ‘Why haven’t I received any notification? Facebook is not good enough, I’m already in Geelong. I drove from Melbourne this morning and paid $400 for accommodation.
However, a Roundhouse Entertainment spokesperson says those who brought tickets through Ticketmaster were notified of the cancellation.
talking with him Geelong AdvertiserMichael Newton said: “Emails and text messages were sent to all ticket buyers via Ticketmaster earlier today.”
Hundreds of devastated people said it was their ‘dream’ to see Rod Stewart perform (above) and were devastated. The event was canceled with only a few hours notice.
“We worked as quickly as possible to get the message out to everyone as soon as we were told tonight’s show would not take place and we started distributing information within 15 minutes of being informed ourselves.”
He added that they “understand that people” are traveling from all over the state and “need to be informed as soon as possible.”
A concertgoer revealed to the newspaper that he flew in from McKay, Queensland, spending more than $800 on travel.
“I had tickets for the 2020 concert, (it was) rescheduled and then canceled due to Covid, I lost money on flights,” he said.
“This time the flights are $800, I’m lucky I never paid for accommodation because I’m staying with my family,” he said.
Many fans were furious saying they had lost money on travel and accommodation.
The trio are scheduled to perform in Adelaide on Tuesday and it is currently unclear if that show will go ahead.
They will then head to Mt Cotton in Queensland on March 25 and 26 before flying to Sydney on March 29.
The tour will remain in New South Wales for its final two shows, one in Hunter Valley on April 1 and the finale in Bowral on April 2.
However, dozens of fans sent Stewart well wishes and said they will still make the most of the weekend.
Stewart is the latest in a long line of international stars to cancel his Australian tour dates.
‘Let’s hope they recover soon. So many people who show no compassion. They are people, not robots. The fans don’t show much love,” wrote one commenter.
It’s so hot and windy that it’s probably a blessing. Now the five of us girls are going to Torquay for dinner while we’re here for a girls weekend! We hope the artists are feeling better soon,” said another.
‘Journal! I hope you feel better ASAP and the weather will be amazing for next time,” a third person wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the organizers of A Day on the Green for comment.
Stewart is the latest in a long line of international stars to cancel his Australian tour dates.
Justin Bieber angered fans after canceling the Australian and New Zealand dates of his Justice World Tour earlier this month.
In November, Michael Bublé canceled his Australian tour just weeks before it was due to start.
The same month, Megan thee Stallion left thousands of fans disappointed after she pulled out of Festival X in Australia just days before her scheduled appearance.
In a third blow in November, KISS was forced to cancel their Australian tour, just days before they were scheduled to perform in Adelaide.
In September, British rapper Stormzy canceled the Australian and New Zealand legs of his tour and withdrew from his headlining appearance at the Spilled Milk Festival.
But the 29-year-old said he had to cancel due to “circumstances beyond his control”, and rising American star Steve Lacy replaced him on Spilled Milk.
American rapper Polo G withdrew from the Listen Out festival in September.
Half of English electro duo Disclosure have also withdrawn from Listen Out to ‘look after their sanity’.
On the other hand, the Nigerian singer Burna Boy canceled his concerts in Sydney within days of announcing them.
Alanis Morissette canceled her tour after postponing it three times in June, while Snoop Dogg canceled his Australian tour in May.
