Deep Purple Postpones Rest of European Tour After Ian Gillan Falls Ill

Deep Purple has postponed the rest of its UK and European tour until further notice, after singer Ian Gillan was taken ill. The band announced the decision on 2 November 2026.

The trouble began in Germany at the end of October. Gillan had a medical problem while the band was in Leipzig and needed urgent treatment at a hospital. Billboard reported on 31 October that two German concerts had been called off as a result. Those were the shows on 1 November at the QI Arena in Leipzig and the Sporthalle in Hamburg.

On 2 November, the band posted a message on its official website, titled "Important message from Ian Gillan and Deep Purple." In it, Gillan thanked fans for their good wishes and support over the past few days. He said he had hoped to get the all clear to play until the end of the tour. Continuing, he said, would carry very serious risks. The decision followed advice from his medical team and management.

The postponed dates cover four more stops in Germany, shows in the Netherlands, four in France and five in the United Kingdom. The tour had been due to finish on 25 November at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Gillan is 81 years old, and he first joined the band in 1969.

Deep Purple still has a short South American tour on the calendar. According to Billboard, it is due to open on 5 December in São Paulo, Brazil.

For many older fans, the name Deep Purple means one song above all. "Smoke on the Water" reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, the US singles chart, in 1973. The band's current plans, though, now rest on Gillan's recovery.

Fans holding tickets for the postponed dates should check the band's official website for updates.