Pearl Jam, the Seattle Sound icons and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, canceled a concert Wednesday on their European tour, saying frontman Eddie Vedder would not be able to perform after smoke from wildfires in France damaged his vocal cords.
The Austria show would have been 14th on the 17-show tour that began in June. It was scheduled to end next week.
“To all those who were anticipating a great Pearl Jam show tonight in Vienna, we were too,”The band released a statement. “However, due to the extreme circumstances at the last outdoor site outside of Paris (heat, dust, and smoke from the fires) our singer Ed Vedder’s throat was left damaged. He has seen doctors and had treatment but as of yet, his vocal cords have not recovered.”
Lollapolooza Paris was headlined by Pearl Jam on Sunday. France was out of controlThe European heatwave was setting new records. The outdoor festival was held at the Hipódromo de Longchamp horse-racing track on the west side of the city, with smoke having drifted north from forest fires in the southwest of France.
“This is brutal news and horrible timing…for everyone involved,”The statement was made by Pearl Jam. “Those who work so hard to put on the shows as well as those who give their precious time and energies to attend.”
The band apologized and promised to refund all tickets.
“As a band, we are deeply sorry and have tried to find options to still play,”According to the statement. “And Ed wants to play. There’s just no throat available at this time… So very, very deeply sorry.”
It was unclear what the status of the European tour’s last three shows were. Pearl Jam was due to play Prague on Friday and Amsterdam Sunday and Monday.
Pearl Jam will be on tour in Europe between April and May. Two legs of a North American TourThat began in May, and was scheduled to end September.
Strangely, their North American tour poster art features a plume of black smoke rising from behind the band while they play a set. Vedder looks back towards it. See it below.
