Ringo Starr cancels live shows at last minute due to illness and later confirms he has COVID

4 October 2022, 10:39 | Updated: 4 October 2022, 10:58

Ringo Starr praises Paul McCartney’s genius

Ringo Starr cancels a live show just hours before showtime.

Ringo Starr has been forced to cancel at least two live performances due to ill health.

The Beatles legend's team initially stated that he did not have COVID-19, but later revealed he had tested positive for the disease.

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"Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band were forced to cancel their recent shows at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo Michigan and at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, MN due to illness," read a statement on Ringo's official website.

"It has been confirmed today that Ringo has COVID and the tour will be on hold while Ringo recuperates."

He has cancelled five further dates in Canada, with concerts in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Lethbridge, Abbotsford and Penticton now no longer taking place.

Ringo was due to play to play a show with his All Starr band at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan on Saturday night (October 1), but the concert was nixed just hours before the group were due to take to the stage.

"Ringo and His All Starr Band (featuring Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette) are very disappointed to announce that they will not be able to play their show at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, MI," the casino wrote in an earlier statement on Facebook (archived by CNN).

"Ringo is sick and was hoping he could carry on, hence the late decision, but it has affected his voice so tonight’s show, scheduled to begin in a few hours, is canceled.

"Ringo does not have Covid. Ringo and the band send Peace and Love to all the fans who came out tonight and hope to see you all soon."

Ringo Starr - World Go Round

A concert booked for Sunday (October 2) at Mystic Lake Casino in Minnesota was also pulled.

"The Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band concert scheduled for 8 pm Sunday, October 2, 2022 has been postponed," read a post on the casino's website.

"Ringo is sick and was hoping to be able to perform, hence the late notice, but it has affected his voice so tomorrow’s show is postponed.

"Ringo does not have COVID-19. He and the band send peace and love to all the fans who were planning to come out and see the show. A rescheduled date will be announced in the future."

Starr – who released the third in a trilogy of EPs last month – is booked to return to the US with a live date at the Benaroya Hall in the S. Mark Taper Auditorium in Seattle on October 11.