Deep Purple Postpones European Tour After Ian Gillan's Surgery

Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan has had successful surgery after a medical emergency, and he says he must rest fully before he can return to work. Rolling Stone reported the news on 7 November 2026.

Gillan, who is 81, had a medical problem in Leipzig, Germany, that needed urgent hospital attention. He was taken into hospital with a health issue that the band has not described in detail.

The band's own account came first. In a statement titled "Important Message from Ian Gillan", posted on its website on 2 November, Gillan thanked fans for their good wishes and support over the previous few days.

Deep Purple has also postponed its European tour. That run had been scheduled to run through 25 November, so the postponement covers the remaining European dates on the calendar. No new dates for those shows have been announced.

The band's Latin America tour is scheduled to begin on 5 December in São Paulo, Brazil, and finish on 19 December in Mexico City. Those dates sit a few weeks after the European run was due to end, and they are the next shows on the calendar.

Behind every tour date is a team that has planned its year around it. A postponed run means promoters, venue staff, lighting and sound crews, and drivers all wait to hear when they will work again. Ticket holders are waiting too, for news of new dates or refunds.

For now, the update is simple. Gillan is recovering after surgery, he has been told to rest, and the band has pushed back its European dates while he does. Fans who want the next confirmed information should watch Deep Purple's website, where the band posts its official news.