Changes: The Killers & Machine Head

Health issues have affected The Killers’ United Kingdom tour as well as Machine Head’s U.S. excursion supporting Dethklok. Both frontmen are ill, with the Killers’ Brandon Flowers suffering a sore throat and Machine Head’s Robb Flynn undergoing emergency surgery.

The Killers were in the middle of the band’s Nov. 13 set at Manchester Arena when Flowers stopped the music to tell the crowd that he was too sick to continue singing.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the show was called off after just four songs. A fan video posted on YouTube shows Flowers saying, “I’m sorry, I’ve never had to do this before but we’ve gotta stop. I can’t sing.” He apologized again and promised that the band would come back to Manchester.

The band was supposed to play a second night at the venue Nov. 14 but that show was also postponed.

A post on The Killers’ Facebook page says, “Manchester, we started something we couldn’t finish and we’re so, so sorry. Working on rescheduling tonight and tomorrow’s shows. Will let you know new dates ASAP”

According to the Manchester Arena’s website, which points out that Flowers had complained of a sore throat, new dates are expected to be announced in the next few days. Ticketholders should hold onto their tickets if they’d like to attend rescheduled shows. Otherwise, fans should contact their point of purchase for further information.

Meanwhile, Machine Head’s Flynn is ailing from something a little more serious than a sore throat. An announcement on the heavy metal band’s website says that Machine Head is canceling nine dates because Flynn needs to have emergency surgery Nov. 14.

The frontman has been suffering through a double inguinal hernia since the tour with Dethklok began in late October. Flynn had planned on waiting until January to have surgery “but it’s become too difficult to continue on.”

After undergoing surgery in Minneapolis, Flynn will head home to California to recover, rest and recuperate.

Machine Home was scheduled to play Saint Paul, Minn., tonight, Nov. 14, followed by gigs in Milwaukee; Chicago; Kansas City, Mo.; St. Louis; Denver; Magna, Utah; and Seattle. The band plans to rejoin the Dethklok tour Nov. 24 in Portland, Ore.

Photo: Jason Moore

House Of Blues, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Flynn released the following statement to tell fans all about what he’s going through:

“I’ve been toughing out an inguinal hernia below my waistline since June of last year, and a few months ago got a second hernia in my nuts. What basically happens is my guts drop into my nuts, and it looks like I have a third testicle (man, I can hear the jokes already!) It hasn’t been that painful, and I’ve gone to the doctor a few times to take care of it, but he said after surgery I probably couldn’t sing for a few weeks, and since that wasn’t going to happen, I scheduled it for January when I had a break.

“Unfortunately, after the last few shows, my guts have been very swollen and hard to push back in. Yesterday, the pain was excruciating and I went to the emergency room last night. They said that I need surgery.

“I will be doing my damnedest to rejoin the tour in a couple weeks. Thanks to all the fans, bands, and crew for understanding. I’m determined to see you all soon and finish what has been a great freakin tour!”

(Photo credit for photo of The Killers shown on the home page: Owen Sweeney / OwenSweeneyPhoto.com)