BST Hyde Park festival has been forced to cancel Sunday’s event after headliner Jeff Lynne’s ELO pulled out of the much-loved event.
Frontman Jeff Lynne had been billed to close the festival playing alongside his rock band, but the 77-year-old explained that he would be unable to perform following a “systemic infection”.
Following the announcement BST Hyde Park cancelled Sunday’s event altogether, meaning the festival’s final event of 2025 will take place when Stevie Wonder takes to the stage on Saturday evening.
A statement from organisers said: “Following the news that Jeff Lynne’s ELO will not be able to perform at BST Hyde Park due to medical reasons, Sunday 13 July’s event will sadly be cancelled.
“Ticket holders will be refunded and contacted directly by their ticket agent with further details.”
It added: “Tonight’s performance marks the final night of an incredible edition of BST Hyde Park and we look forward to seeing everyone next year.”
An earlier statement from BST said: “Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow’s BST Hyde Park show.
“Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.
“The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today – and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.”
Originally known as the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the name of the group was changed to 2014 when Lynne reformed the band.
The rock band, best known for their hit song Mr Blue Sky, also pulled out of a performance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live, which had been due to take place on Thursday.
The band was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan, and first split in 1986.
They are known for fusing classical music, Beatles-style pop and futuristic rock visuals, and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017.
Other hits by the band include Livin’ Thing, Telephone Line and Evil Woman.
Singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Lynne resurrected the band in 2014.
On September 14 that year, he teamed up with the BBC Concert Orchestra to play some of the band’s greatest hits at a comeback concert at BST Hyde Park.
The band released the album From Out Of Nowhere in 2019 and it soared to number one on the UK albums charts, joining Discovery (1979), Time (1981) and their compilation album, All Over the World: The Very Best Of Electric Light Orchestra (2005).
ELO also had a number of top 10 songs in the UK singles charts, including Don’t Bring Me Down, Hold On Tight and Shine A Little Love.
Lynne was made an OBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to music, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2015.
