Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan has been hospitalized after a medical emergency, forcing the band to cancel two shows scheduled for this weekend on its SPLAT! World Tour.
The British rock group announced the decision on Instagram on Saturday, telling fans it was “with great disappointment” that the next two concerts in Germany would not go ahead as planned.
The band said Gillan, 81, experienced a “medical emergency” that “resulted in his current hospitalization.”
Deep Purple’s current lineup also features bassist Roger Glover, 80; drummer Ian Paice, 78; keyboardist Don Airey, 78; and guitarist Simon McBride, 47. Former bassist Glenn Hughes, who departed the group in 1976, recently revealed that he was retiring because of “some health issues.”
Formed in Hertford, England, in 1968, Deep Purple became known worldwide for songs such as “Smoke on the Water” and “Highway Star.” The band has continued touring internationally for decades, with Paice now the only remaining original member.
Gillan joined Deep Purple in 1969, taking over as lead vocalist from Roger Evans.
Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan has been hospitalized for a medical emergency, which caused the band to cancel two concerts from its SPLAT! World Tour this weekend. Above, Gillan on October 17 in Milan, Italy
The British rock band made the announcement via Instagram on Saturday, telling fans it was ‘with great disappointment’ that their next two shows in Germany could not proceed as planned. Above, Gillan on October 17 in Milan, Italy
‘We understand that this announcement comes at short notice and share the disappointment of all our wonderful fans that we are unable to perform in Leipzig and Hamburg,’ the musicians stated.
‘Deep Purple and their team are focused on finding a suitable time to reschedule both these shows. All tickets purchased will be valid for the rescheduled dates.’
The band’s message concluded: ‘With the greatest love and respect… Deep Purple x.’
The nature of Gillan’s ‘medical emergency’ was not specified, but in November 2025, rumors spread that Gillan was thinking about retiring after sharing that he was grappling with eyesight issues.
‘It’s one of those things. I’ve only got 30 percent vision. That won’t get better,’ he told Uncut magazine, per Hello! ‘It makes life mysterious. The hardest thing is working on my laptop.’
Gillan mentioned he ‘can’t see anything’ on his laptop screen and uses his ‘peripheral vision’ to get by.
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‘I pick up a line by looking at it sideways. But you find a way. You adapt. But it’s achingly tiresome. It takes a long time to do the work,’ he said.
Gillan added that retirement ‘isn’t far off.’
They revealed Gillan, 81, suffered a ‘medical emergency’ which ‘resulted in his current hospitalization.’ Above, the band’s frontman on October 17 in Milan, Italy
The nature of Gillan’s ‘medical emergency’ was not specified, but in November 2025, rumors spread that Gillan was thinking about retiring after sharing that he was grappling with eyesight issues. Above, the London-born singer and lyricist on October 17 in Milan, Italy
‘It’s one of those things. I’ve only got 30 percent vision. That won’t get better,’ Gillan told an interviewer last year
Gillan joined the British rock band in 1969. Above, Gillan, second from left, with current band members Roger Glover, left, and Ian Paice, third from left; and former band mates Jon Lord, standing, and Ritchie Blackmore, right, in 1972
‘I think if I lose my energy, I’m going to stop [touring],’ he said at the time. ‘I don’t want to be an embarrassment to anyone. We’re not far off that. It creeps up on you, you don’t really notice.’
In June, he backpedaled on that statement, speaking to Uncut once again, and saying: ‘Someone connected it with my failing eyesight, but I don’t see how that’s going to ever stop me singing.
‘I will retire or stop when I haven’t got the strength to do it, or when it becomes embarrassing,’ Gillan maintained. ‘I won’t just keep going for the sake of it. So when people give me a slap and say, “Oi, off you go,” that’ll be it. But we’re getting by so far, and I’m still standing when I walk off at the end of a show, just about.’
Two days ago, Deep Purple shared a clip of the musicians rocking out during their tour stop in Oslo.
The band members were seen heading to the stage with grins on their faces, and Gillan himself strolled by with a towel around his neck while giving the camera a spirited smile.
‘Oslo, what a night!’ Deep Purple wrote in the caption. ‘And to Stockholm, for an incredible Monday evening! Next stop, Gothenburg. See you tonight!’
Deep Purple’s tour is slated to continue through the end of December before one final concert that will take place in Gliwice, Poland in June 2027.
