Elton John is suffering from appendicitis and must undergo an intensive course of antibiotics followed by surgery, the BBC reported.
The singer and songwriter, who is 66, has postponed the rest of his European tour, including a forthcoming show at Hyde Park in London. Mr. John told the Sun newspaper he had been experiencing intense abdominal pain for weeks and did at least 10 shows in agony before seeking medical help. “I was a ticking time bomb,†Mr. John told the tabloid.
According to a notice on Mr. John’s Web site, doctors did a number of tests and determined his appendix had become severely infected. The official diagnosis was “appendix abscess surrounding retrocaecal appendicitis.â€
The singer is expected to undergo surgery in the United Kingdom in the coming weeks.
Mr. John, who regularly performs more than 120 concerts a year, is not likely to be well enough to perform for at least two months, the statement on his Web site said. “Elton is incredibly disappointed to postpone these tour dates,†the statement said. “He is eager to be back on top form and return to play the remaining shows starting in early September 2013.â€
