Beatles drummer Sir Ringo Starr, 82, cancels shows due to mystery illness
Sir Ringo Starr has called off several concerts after falling ill with an undisclosed medical condition that affected his voice.
The 82-year-old Beatles drummer and his All-Starr Band were due to perform at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan on Saturday 1 October 2022, but the show was cancelled just a few hours before it was scheduled to begin, with fans offered refunds.
A statement issued through the Four Winds Casino said: "Ringo is sick and was hoping he could carry on, but it has affected his voice, hence the late decision. Ringo does not have COVID.
"Ringo and the band send Peace and Love to all the fans who came out tonight and hope to see you all soon."
The band also postponed their Sunday night gig at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Minnesota.
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A statement shared by Mystery Lake Casino did not reveal what was making Sir Ringo unwell, but confirmed he did not have COVID-19.
They said: "Ringo is sick and was hoping to be able to perform, hence the late notice, but it has affected his voice. Ringo does not have COVID-19."
The show is due to be rescheduled for a later date.
In June 2022 Sir Ringo postponed his North American tour after Toto’s Steve Lukather, 64, and Average White Band’s Edgar Winter, 75 - both members of his All-Starr band - tested positive for coronavirus.
The Beatles drummer formed his All-Starr Band in 1989 and for the last 33 years has toured with different line-ups around the world.
The other current members are Men at Work’s Colin Hay, 69, and Average White Band’s Hamish Stuart, 72.
The current tour is due to end on 20 October in Mexico City.
Sir Ringo and his second wife Barbara Bach, who he married in 1981, have homes in Surrey, Los Angeles and Monte Carlo.
The Beatle revealed in December 2020 that he was disappointed not to be able to return to the UK for Christmas due to the corornavirus pandemic.
He said: "I’m not in England, I should be in England. I go for Christmas with the kids and my grandkids and that’s not happening.
“So I had a few days of being miserable about that. And then you’ve got to get on. You just got to get up again and say, ‘well, let’s see what we can do today’. It’s no good sitting there being miserable for a long time, just odd moments.”
The drummer rose to fame with The Beatles after replacing original member Pete Best in 1962.
Read more: Ringo Starr celebrates 40 years of marriage to wife Barbara Bach
He is also known to many as the narrator of children's TV show Thomas & Friends, about Thomas The Tank Engine.
Watch: Ringo Starr's views on Boris Johnson
