Bruce Dickinson told the Swedish national radio (Sveriges Radio) P4 Live that he canceled his Bucharest, Romania show for a real reason.
The singer explained that a viral infection caused him to cancel the concert on June 3. Dickinson said he’s feeling better after taking antibiotics and other treatments to reduce swelling on his vocal cords. He mentioned that the bug he caught spread to others on the crew. When the interviewer asked if he was used to canceling shows, Bruce responded:
“No. The last show I canceled was 17 years ago. So this was rare. But it was one of those moments. Because I don’t cancel shows hardly ever, it was obvious that it was real. ‘Cause I was singing through it, and normally when I sing through it, you start getting better, but it was getting worse.”
Then, the rocker decided to follow medical advice to rest and recover:
“So I said, ‘I have to…’ There’s no space anywhere to rest on this tour. There’s one show and there was some days around it. I said, ‘I can take a five-day break, go to see the doctor, do what he tells me, shut up for five days’ — just do all the stuff you do. I mean, I know how to look after my voice, but when you get sick, it’s another thing entirely.”
Bruce’s Words After The Show Cancellation
After the cancellation announcement, Dickinson said in a statement:
“I have been pushing my voice through a viral infection for the past few shows. I was hoping that the 2 days after the Dutch shows would have been enough vocal rest, but the Budapest show was a real struggle. The audiences have been fantastic, but I have a duty to the rest of the tour and a responsibility to look after my instrument….it’s the only one I’ve got!”
The musician added:
“With a very heavy heart, I have had to make the decision to cancel tomorrow’s show in Bucharest. It was not the outcome I hoped for. I am seeing a throat specialist Doctor tomorrow to confirm the wisdom of my decision, but after 40 years of singing, I know when things are not right and the voice has to take a temporary rest. I am gutted for the fans in Bucharest. I can only say sorry and thank you for your support and understanding.”
Dickinson recovered and continued his European shows in the coming days. His next gig is scheduled for June 16 in Berlin, Germany. After another show in Hamburg, he will head toward other countries like Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain.