Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan is recovering after a successful medical procedure. The 81-year-old shared the update with fans on Nov. 7, saying he would need time to rest before making a full recovery.
“I had a procedure yesterday which was successful,” Gillan wrote on Facebook. “I now have to rest, in order to make a complete recovery and ensure that I’m as fit as can be before getting back to work.” He thanked fans for their patience and understanding and apologized for the inconvenience.
Last weekend, the band said Gillan had been hospitalized with an unspecified health issue. Two concerts in Germany were postponed, and days later Deep Purple announced that the rest of its scheduled U.K. and European tour would also be delayed.
The postponed dates began with the Oct. 31 show at QI Arena in Leipzig and the Nov. 1 concert at Sporthalle in Hamburg. Gillan previously wrote on Instagram that he had experienced a medical problem in Leipzig and needed urgent hospital care.
Gillan said he had hoped to get medical clearance to finish the tour, but doing so carried serious risks. On the advice of his medical team and management, the band decided to postpone the remaining dates until further notice. New dates have not been announced.
Deep Purple has been on its SPLAT! world tour since late summer. The postponed U.K. and European dates had originally been scheduled to run through late November. At the time of publication, the Latin American leg was still set to begin Dec. 5 in São Paulo and end Dec. 19 in Mexico City.
