March 26, 2007 10:18

Arcade Fire cancel European tour

Win Butler forced off the road due to illness

Photo Gallery: Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire have cancelled the rest of their European tour due to frontman Win Butler’s illness.

The band have been forced to axe nine dates because the singer can't shake a sinus infection he has been suffering from since the beginning of the year.

Writing on Arcadefire.com, Butler explained: “I just had to make the very sad decision to cancel the rest of the European tour… Last night in Stockholm I finally pushed my voice and body farther then they are able to go.

“I kept yelling at the monitor guy because I didn’t recognize the sound that was coming out the monitor as my own voice, and it took me until the second song to realize that the sound was coming from me. Today I can barely speaker or make any sound, so finishing the shows is no longer possible.”

Butler added that doctors have been advising him to cancel shows for weeks, but he has been trying to push through.

“We could not imagine cancelling a show unless it was physically impossible to do," he explained. "We apologise to the fans that have been waiting to see us...wish me luck with the doctors.”

His brother and bandmate Will Butler, confirmed the decision, explaining: “Oh boy oh boy was this the correct decision. That Win is sicker than a brick.”

The cancelled shows are:

Oslo Sentrum Scene (March 24)
Copenhagen KB Halle (25)
Berlin Postbanhof (27)
Munich Elser Halle (28)
Lyon Transbordeur (31)
Cologne Palladium (April 1)
Utrecht Vredenburg (2)
Brussels Halles de Schaerbeek (4)
Lille L’Aeronef (5)

According to Arcade Fire fansite Arcadefire.net, ticket holders are advised to get in touch with the promoter directly regarding refunds.