Rod Stewart has taken to social media to apologise to fans after his gig in Geelong was cancelled less than three hours before it was set to begin.
The veteran British rocker, 78, was due to perform at the Mt Duneed Estate in Victoria alongside Cyndi Lauper.
However, a Facebook post from organisers shortly before the show was set to begin announced that it wasn’t going ahead ‘due to illness’ – prompting fury from ticket holders.
On Saturday night, Stewart took to Instagram to apologise for the cancellation and reveal that a viral infection had made his throat too sore to sing.
‘Hello my friends. I am absolutely downhearted that I’m disappointing my fans who bought tickets to A Day on the Green,’ he wrote.
‘Late this morning I was advised that I have a viral infection and my throat is too irritated to sing. I’m only human and sometimes get sick just like you do.
‘My greatest joy is performing for you, so I’m doing everything I can to get on the mend and get back on stage’.
Rod Stewart has issued an apology to fans after his gig in Geelong was cancelled less than three hours before it was set to begin due to him being 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 on why the show was cancelled last minute
Furious Rod Stewart fans found out his gig in Geelong was cancelled less than three hours before the curtain on Friday, with devastated concertgoers only being notified through social media (Rod is pictured in Melbourne on March 14)
The cancellation was announced on Facebook with many ticket holders questioning why they weren’t emailed or texted
In a statement announcing the cancellation, organisers earlier said: ‘Live Nation and Roundhouse Entertainment regret to announce that tonight’s performance by Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens at Mt. Duneed Estate, Geelong will not go ahead, due to illness,’ the statement read.
‘We apologise for the disappointment and inconvenience to ticket holders.
An announcement regarding the concert arrangements will now be made early next week.
Devastated attendees erupted with anger at news of the cancellation.
Many had flown interstate for the gig, while others said they were only in Geelong temporarily and wouldn’t be able to attend a rescheduled gig.
‘Maybe a text to the ticket holders would be nice. Not everyone has Facebook,’ one person wrote.
‘Text this morning would have been nice before we travelled down from Melbourne,’ another said.
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 it wasn’t going ahead
Hundreds of disappointed fans flocked to the comments under the post with many questioning why the cancellation had only been shared on social media
‘Why hasn’t Ticketmaster emailed to let people know? This is so frustrating I’m devastated,’ a third person commented.
‘Flew from Hobart to see Rod, how will we be able to come back over now? Devo! We bought these tickets for my mum as a present as it’s her dream,’ another said.
A fifth person wrote: ‘Hope their insurance covers our accommodation and day off work. No email notification to ticket holders. Ended up receiving an email at 1:52pm, 63 minutes before the bus was due to collect us from hotel.’
Another commented: ‘Why haven’t I received any notification? Facebook isn’t good enough, I’m already in Geelong. 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 cancelletion.
Speaking to The Geelong Advertiser, Michael Newton said: ‘Emails and texts were sent to all ticket purchasers via Ticketmaster earlier today.’
Hundreds of devastated said it was their ‘dream’ to see Rod Stewart (above) perform and were gutted the even was cancelled 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 the news about tonight’s show not going ahead and we started distributing information within 15 minutes of being informed ourselves’.
He added that they ‘understand people’ are travelling from all over the state and ‘need to be informed as soon as possible’.
One concertgoer revealed tot the paper she flew from McKay, Queensland, spending more than $800 on travel.
‘I had tickets for the 2020 concert, (it was) rescheduled and then cancelled due to Covid, I lost money on flights,’ she said.
‘This time flights cost $800, I’m lucky I never paid for accommodation because I’m staying with family,’ she said.
Many fans were furious saying they’d 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 up to Mt Cotton in Queensland on March 25 and 26 before flying down to Sydney on March 29.
The tour will stay in New South Wales for its last two shows with one hosted in Hunter Valley on April 1 and the final to take place in Bowral on April 2.
However, dozens of fans sent well wishes to Stewart and said they’re still going to make the most of the weekend.
Stewart is the latest in a long line of international stars to cancel their Australian tour dates
‘Hopefully they recover quickly. So many people showing no compassion whatsoever. They are people, not robots. Not a lot of love being shown by fans,’ one commenter wrote.
‘It’s so bloody hot and windy, it’s probably a blessing. Now us five girls are going out for dinner in Torquay while we’re here for a girls weekend! We hope the artists feel better soon,’ another said.
‘Bummer! Hope he feels better as soon as possible and the weather is awesome for next time,’ a third person wrote.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted A Day on the Green organisers for comment.
Stewart is the latest in a long line of international stars to cancel their Australian tour dates.
Justin Bieber angered fans after cancelling the Australian and New Zealand dates of his Justice World Tour earlier this month.
In November, Michael Bublé cancelled his Aussie tour just weeks before it was due to start.
The same month Megan thee Stallion has 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 were forced to cancel their Australian tour, just days before they were scheduled to perform in Adelaide.
In September, British rapper Stormzy cancelled the Australian and New Zealand legs of his tour and pulled out of his headline appearance at Spilt Milk Festival.
But the 29-year-old said he had to cancel due to ‘circumstances outside of his control’, with rising American star Steve Lacy replacing him at Spilt Milk.
American rapper Polo G pulled out of the Listen Out festival in September.
Half of the English electro duo Disclosure also pulled out of Listen Out to ‘look after his mental health’.
Elsewhere, Nigerian singer Burna Boy cancelled his Sydney gigs within days of announcing them.
Alanis Morissette cancelled her tour after postponing it three times in June, while Snoop Dogg cancelled his Aussie tour in May.
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