Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan, 81, is hospitalized for medical emergency forcing band to cancel shows

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.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.They revealed Gillan, 81, suffered a 'medical emergency' which 'resulted in his current hospitalization.'Besides Gillan, the current band members include Roger Glover, 80, on bass, Ian Paice, 78, on drums, Don Airey, 78, on keyboards, and Simon McBride, 47, on guitar. Former Deep Purple bassist Glenn Hughes, who left the band in 1976, recently announced his retirement due to 'some health issues.'Deep Purple, which formed in Hertford, England and turned out hits including Smoke on the Water and Highway Star, has been touring the globe since 1968 with Paice the only remaining original member left. Gillan joined Deep Purple in 1969, replacing lead singer 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.'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, ItalyThe 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.