Rolling Stones delay tour as Jagger seeks medical treatment

The Rolling Stones have postponed a tour of the United States and Canada to give singer Mick Jagger time to receive medical treatment, the veteran rock band said on Saturday.

“I’m devastated for having to postpone the tour but I will be working very hard to be back on stage as soon as I can,” Jagger said on Twitter, without providing further details.

“I’m so sorry to all our fans in America and Canada with tickets. I really hate letting you down like this.”

Fans were quick to reply to his post, wishing him well.

The 75-year-old rock star was expected to make a full recovery, the band’s publicist said.

“The doctors have advised Mick that he is expected to make a complete recovery so that he can get back on stage as soon as possible,” the publicist said in a statement.

The band’s North American tour had been scheduled to run from April 20 until June 29.

The Stones have had to cancel sell-out concerts in the past, like in Las Vegas in 2016, when Jagger contracted laryngitis.

Some misadventures of lead guitarist Keith Richards, the co-author with Jagger of hits such as “Satisfaction” and “Brown Sugar”, have also caused show postponements and cancellations during the band’s 50-year-long career.

The group had to cancel gigs in 1990 when Richards infected his finger, and the start of a European tour was postponed in 1998 when he fell off a ladder in his home. Some 2006 shows were also delayed when Richards fell from a coconut tree while on vacation.

Reporting and writing by Elisabeth O'Leary and William Schomberg; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Marie-Louise Gumuchian