The Australian psych-rock band, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard have announced via their Instagram account that they have to cut short the rest of their UK and European tour with 13 shows remaining. Stu Mackenzie has revealed that his long-term struggle with Crohn’s Disease is forcing him to return home for treatment. Soon after their headline show in Prague on August 5th, the band posted on Instagram to announce the bad news. For UK fans, this means that they won’t be playing at the upcoming All Points East Festival on August 26th in east London.
Mackenzie opened up on the post, “Hey everyone – Stu here. Unfortunately due to a personal health crisis we’re going to have to cancel the remaining EU and UK dates. For the past decade or so I’ve dealt with Crohn’s Disease the best I can. It’s a miracle we haven’t cancelled any shows in the past. But right now, my health is in really bad shape and I need to get home for some urgent treatment”.
He went on to reveal, “I’ve always kept my struggles with Crohn’s private. I guess I didn’t want to be defined by it. And maybe I’m not defined by it, but I’m certainly dictated by it. It’s looming threat has shaped almost every major decision in my adult life. I think about it and plan for it and around it every day. I know a lot of people deal with chronic illnesses. I’m sorry. It fucking sucks”.
Makenzie expressed his regret in being unable to continue the tour and said refunds for their headline shows will be available from Monday 8th August: “Sorry to everybody who bought tickets, to everyone who helped make the shows happen, our crew, our management and agents. We’ll reschedule the shows that can be rescheduled and there will be full refunds available for all the headline shows from your point of purchase on Monday”.
He closed out his statement by saying, “Being able to travel the world and play live music for people every night is such a privilege and I’m so grateful for the shows we were able to make happen in Ireland, Croatia and Czech Republic. Thanks for understanding and again, I’m SO sorry. Love Stu”.
The NHS state that Crohn’s Disease “is a lifelong condition where parts of the digestive system become inflamed”; saying that the main symptoms are “diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, tiredness (fatigue) and weight loss,” and that “The symptoms may be constant or may come and go every few weeks or months. When they come back, it’s called a flare-up”. For more information on Crohn’s Disease click here.
3 more albums this year
— King Gizzard (@kinggizzard) June 17, 2022
The notoriously prolific band announced on June 17th that they would release three more albums this year on top of an already busy year. The band have already released Made In Timeland exclusively on vinyl, Satanic Slumber Party (a collab with Fuck Storm) and the double album Omnium Gatherum. Click here to purchase.
On the three upcoming albums, guitarist Joey Walker told Australian broadcaster Triple J, “They’re very jammy and meandering, kinda funky-prog-something,” he continued, “They’re kind of a response to us not being able to get together and play during lockdowns. It’s just jamming and the product of that. We’re really, really pumped about them.”
