Fans eagerly awaiting Jeff Lynne's ELO performance at the Co-op Live arena were left disappointed last night as the highly anticipated gig was called off at the eleventh hour due to illness reports the BBC. The announcement came just moments before the support act, Dhani Harrison, was set to take the stage, leaving thousands of concertgoers in disarray.
A statement posted on the official Jeff Lynne's ELO X page confirmed the cancellation: "Unfortunately due to illness, tonight's scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne's ELO at the Co-op Live will not be going ahead. Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening."
The abrupt nature of the cancellation drew frustration from many attendees. A couple who traveled from Liverpool voiced their disappointment, calling the situation "a load of rubbish" and lamenting the lack of earlier notice. They also expressed dismay that Dhani Harrison, son of the late George Harrison, wasn't permitted to perform his support set, stating they "would have been happy to see Dhani Harrison but we got nothing."
Concerns for the 77-year-old Birmingham music legend, Jeff Lynne, quickly spread among fans. Lynne had reportedly been performing without his guitar since Saturday after sustaining a hand injury in a taxi crash. Some attendees from the first of the two planned Manchester gigs on Wednesday had already commented that he didn't appear well.
"I just hope he's ok," a fan who traveled from Aberdeen shared, reflecting the sentiment of many. "In the 1970s my first cassette album was ELO and I was looking forward to seeing Jeff Lynne, but the guy's ill so what can you say I just hope he's ok."
Jeff Lynne's ELO rose to prominence in the 1970s with hits like "Living Thing" and "Mr. Blue Sky." Lynne also boasts an impressive career as a producer, notably working on The Beatles' comeback singles "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" in the 1990s. Further updates on Lynne's condition and potential rescheduling of the show are awaited.
