Stewart Cancels Concert
Rod Stewart Cancels California Concert With Laryngitis, Doctors Advised Against Performing
Key Points
Stewart’s team said he “travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform,” before doctors’ advice meant he still couldn’t go on—he then shared a photo from the stage as the crew began disassembling it.
He has a prior cancer history: The Sun reported that the 81-year-old has had both prostate and thyroid cancer.
Despite the Chula Vista cancellation, Stewart was scheduled to perform next at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado on June 15, according to his reporting at the time.
GB News added medical context from the NHS, describing laryngitis as irritation or swelling of the voice box/vocal cords, noting it “usually resolves within one to two weeks,” and advising sufferers to speak as little as possible and drink plenty of fluids.
The cancellation was reported as part of a pattern of recent illness-related withdrawals: GB News said Stewart had also cancelled two Las Vegas performances at Caesars Palace two weeks earlier after medical advice linked to a sinus infection.
Rod Stewart, 81, cancelled his concert at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California on June 12, just hours before he was due on stage. Doctors told him not to perform after an acute upper respiratory infection left him with laryngitis, robbing him of his voice.
Stewart's team said he "travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform" before doctors stepped in. He later posted a photo from the stage as the crew began tearing it down, and apologized to fans. He said he plans to reschedule the show.
Doctors Stopped Stewart Hours Before Showtime
Stewart arrived at the 20,500-capacity Chula Vista amphitheatre on June 12 and underwent treatment on-site. Doctors said he felt "somewhat better" after being seen. But they still warned him that performing could cause serious harm to his vocal cords. He followed their advice and pulled the plug on the show.
GB News reported that laryngitis is an irritation or swelling of the voice box and vocal cords. The NHS says it "usually resolves within one to two weeks." Doctors advise patients to speak as little as possible and drink plenty of fluids. For a rock vocalist at age 81, performing through it was simply not an option.
Chula Vista Is the Third Show Lost to Illness in Two Weeks
The Chula Vista cancellation is not a one-off. GB News reported that Stewart also cancelled two performances at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas roughly two weeks earlier. Those shows were pulled after doctors advised him not to perform due to a severe sinus infection. That brings the total to at least three major shows cancelled in about 14 days.
Despite the back-to-back illnesses, Stewart was still scheduled to perform at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado on June 15. That show became an immediate test of whether the tour could continue in its current form.
Cancer History Raises the Stakes on Every Health Scare
The Sun reported that Stewart has battled cancer twice. He was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000 and prostate cancer in 2017. He survived both. Neither is directly linked to his current respiratory illness. But the history adds weight to any health news involving the British rock legend.
Stewart has previously hinted that he may be winding down his heavy touring schedule. His current run is called the "One Last Time" tour, and the name may prove accurate. Music industry observers note that repeated last-minute cancellations put serious strain on tour insurance and on fans who book non-refundable travel.
What Fans and Concertgoers Can Expect Now
Stewart promised to reschedule the Chula Vista show. No new date had been confirmed as of June 13. Fans who traveled to the San Diego area and paid secondary market prices — averaging $150 to $450 per ticket — faced the added sting of non-refundable hotel and travel costs on top of the disappointment.
The June 15 Red Rocks date was being watched closely as a sign of the tour's health. The NHS puts the standard recovery window for laryngitis at seven to fourteen days. Stewart was only on day one of that window when the next show was just three days away.
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