Music icon cancels shows over ‘intense’ pain after coming out of retirement
Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon canceled two shows over the weekend months after coming out of retirement to tour for the first time in seven years.
Simon, 83, canceled his June 28 and June 29 shows at Philadelphia's Academy of Music because of "chronic and intense back pain," according to an X post from the singer.
"Regretfully, Paul Simon must cancel two shows tonight June 28 and tomorrow night June 29 at Philadelphia's Academy of Music. Paul has been struggling with chronic and intense back pain. Today it became unmanageable and demands immediate attention," the post read.
"Unfortunately, we have to cancel these shows at this time, as we don't have the ability to reschedule them," it continued. "However, we are hopeful after this minor surgical procedure which has been scheduled in the next few days, Paul will be able to complete the tour as well as look into returning to make up these dates."
Fans who purchased tickets for the Philly shows will be automatically refunded. Simon is next scheduled to perform July 7 at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California, followed by a five-night run July 9-16 in Los Angeles.
Simon announced his "Quiet Celebration Tour" on Feb. 18. His last tour, the " Homeward Bound – The Farewell Tour ," was in 2018 — the same year the 83-year-old decided to retire from touring due to significant hearing loss.
Simon made adjustments to be able to perform on tour, such as using larger speakers placed around him when he's playing and no longer plays certain songs like his most enduring hit, "You Can Call Me Al."
"It was incredibly frustrating. I was very angry at first that this had happened," Simon said in an interview for " CBS Mornings " last year. "I guess what I'm most apprehensive about would be if I can't hear well enough to really enjoy the act of making music."
Simon performed as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel alongside Art Garfunkel for more than a decade before embarking on a solo career. Simon was first inducted into the Rock Hall in 1991 as part of Simon & Garfunkel before he was was inducted a second time as a soloist in 2001.
A 16-time Grammy Award winner, Simon's catalog includes solo favorites like "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Kodachrome," "Still Crazy All These Years," and "Slip Slidin' Away," plus folk-rock classics with Garfunkel like "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "The Sound of Silence," and "Mrs. Robinson."
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