Rock Legend, 76, Postpones Tour Due to Health Concerns originally appeared on Parade.
YES keyboardist Rick Wakeman has been touring and performing live for over 50 years. Unfortunately for American progressive rock fans, the British rocker has had to abruptly cancel his U.S. tour due to concerns about his health.
Wakeman’s publicist issued a statement on July 7 announcing the sad news, stating that “[Wakeman’s] doctors have recommended that he undergo surgery this month to correct an ongoing health issue.” The tour was set to begin on July 18 and end on July 31. While new dates have yet to be announced, tickets from the canceled dates will still be valid for the rescheduled ones, whenever they may be.
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British singer Hayley Sanderson was set to join him on his U.S. tour. Sanderson is best known for singing on the British TV show Strictly Come Dancing—the original iteration of Dancing With the Stars. It’s unclear if Sanderson will still be part of the rescheduled shows, but the two have been working together for more than a decade. Wakeman performed on her album Just Songs in 2009, and the two have performed live together numerous times since, according to The Prog Report.
Wakeman is also scheduled to do a U.K. tour in October with the English Rock Ensemble, which, per the statement, has not been affected.
The resilient rock legend is no stranger to having health issues. He famously had three heart attacks in his 20s. He also reportedly suffers from arthritis (understandable after playing the keyboard for more than half a century), diabetes, and macular degeneration (vision loss).
“In my 20s, I lived the ultimate rock’n’roll life,” he said in a 2019 interview with Mirror (via Express). “I don’t remember much.”
Rock Legend, 76, Postpones Tour Due to Health Concerns first appeared on Parade on Jul 8, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
