
Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne has sparked concern among fans just days before what is expected to be ELO’s final UK performance.
Thousands had already arrived at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena for the sold-out gig on Thursday when, at 8.45pm, the band posted a statement on social media confirming the show would not be going ahead due to illness.
“Unfortunately due to illness tonight’s (Thursday 10th July 2025) scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne’s ELO at the Co-Op Live will not be going ahead,” the statement read.
“Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening. More information will become available as soon as possible. For refunds please go to your point of purchase.”
Fans already inside the venue reacted with shock and frustration.
One wrote: “THEY CANCELLED ELO TONIGHT BECAUSE JEFF IS ILL????? YOU CANT MAKE THIS UP WE’RE ALL BEING BOOTED OUT.

“I do not blame jeff for being ill or cancelling but this should have been communicated to us earlier than 8:15!! the support was supposed to be on at 8!”
Another penned on X: “The concert that never was. Cancelled with 45mins to go get well soon JeffLynne.”
The last-minute cancellation comes just days ahead of ELO’s headline slot at BST Hyde Park on Sunday, billed as the band’s final ever UK show.
But a spokesperson for BST told the Standard on Friday: “As reported Jeff Lynne was unwell and unable to perform on Thursday 10th July.
We are advised that there are currently no concerns with regards to Sunday’s performance.”
It follows concerns over Lynne’s health during recent performances.
On Wednesday night, the 77-year-old took to the same Manchester stage with a broken hand, telling the audience he’d been injured in London.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the frontman said: “I was in London and a taxi dashed off from where he was coming from and smashed my hand. It really hurt at the time. That’s why I haven’t got a guitar – I normally would have.”
@TheCoopLive pic.twitter.com/GGfHZXb6wY
— Jeff Lynne's ELO (@JeffLynnesELO) July 10, 2025
Fans had already expressed concern following Saturday night’s show in Birmingham, ELO’s home city, where Lynne powered through his performance despite being unable to play guitar.
“Really hoping JeffLynne is doing ok at the end of tonight. Absolutely incredible concert and what a humble man, but I am very concerned about his health now,” one wrote online.
The social media added how Jeff “asked to sit down towards the end, they got him a chair but it was quite tall”.
“Was sliding down the chair and struggled to push himself up,” she continued. “He missed a few bits in Mr Blue Sky (though was still amazing to his credit). Crew and band helped him off stage at the end.”
Another gig goer also noted that Lynne “looked very unwell” at the end of the gig.
BST Hyde Park organisers have promoted Sunday’s performance as the band’s “final goodbye”, marking a historic farewell for ELO.
THEY CANCELLED ELO TONIGHT BECAUSE JEFF IS ILL????? YOU CANT MAKE THIS UP WE’RE ALL BEING BOOTED OUT pic.twitter.com/GJOGSbunJA
— elle ⚡️ (@sleeptokem) July 10, 2025
Lynne said of the show: “My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014. It seems like the perfect place to do our final show.
“We couldn’t be more excited to share this special night in London with our UK fans. As the song goes, ‘we’re gonna do it One More Time’”.
The legendary frontman has been a staple of British music for over five decades.
He co-founded ELO in 1970 and went on to produce a string of hits including Mr Blue Sky and Evil Woman. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, and Lynne received an OBE in 2020 for his services to music.