Elton John Needs ASAP Surgery, Intensive Physiotherapy After Fall

Sir Elton John's fans will have to wait a bit longer before they'll see him return to the stage. The singer and performer has announced via Instagram that plans for his 2021 Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour have been postponed following an accident that will require him to undergo surgery.

"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I am forced to reschedule the 2021 dates of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Europe and the U.K. to 2023," wrote John in his statement.

"At the end of my summer break, I fell awkwardly on a hard surface and have been in considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since. Despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving. I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications. I will be undertaking a program of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and a return to mobility without pain."

This isn't the first time John has needed to put his tour on hold. The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was announced back in 2018 and began that September. It was intended to include around 300 shows worldwide over three years, but was suspended due to the pandemic.

While John's concert tour is currently on pause to allow him to recuperate, the singer announced that he will still be performing at the Global Citizen charity event on September 25. "Being just five songs it's a very different physical undertaking to the demands of playing for close to three hours every night on tour and traveling overnight between countries," he said about the decision to keep his commitment to the event. "After this I will be having the operation to ensure the tour can get back on the road in January of 2022 in New Orleans."

John ended his message by acknowledging his fan's understandable frustration while also looking to the future. "I know how patient my incredible fans have been since [the pandemic] halted touring last year, and it breaks my heart to keep you waiting any longer. I completely feel your frustration," he said. "I promise you this - the shows will return to the road next year and I will make sure they are more than worth the wait."

The tour is set to be his final one.