The Who postpone March/April 2020 UK tour due to coronavirus

They vow to honour the tour at a later date

The Who postpone UK tour
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 12th Mar 2020
Last updated 13th Mar 2020

The Who have postponed their entire March and April 2020 UK arena tour plus their headline slot at the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series due to coronavirus.

The Who's orchestral UK tour was scheduled to kick off at Manchester Arena on Monday 16th March and call in at Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool and London.

Additionally, The Who were due to headline the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series – curated and founded by Roger Daltrey – at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 28th March.

In a statement, The Who said: “After serious consideration, it is with much regret that The Who have postponed their U.K. tour, due to start next Monday March 16th in Manchester at the Manchester Arena and finishing at Wembley SSE Arena on April 8th. The dates will be rescheduled for later in the year. All tickets will be honoured.

“The fans' safety is paramount and given the developing Coronavirus concerns, the band felt that they had no option but to postpone the shows as a precaution.”

Frontman Roger Daltrey has insisted fans the tour will still “definitely happen and it may be the last time we do a tour of this type, so keep those tickets, as the shows will be fantastic.”

Guitarist Pete Townshend adds: “Haven't reached this decision easily, but given the concerns about public gatherings, we couldn’t go ahead."

Rock tours, gigs and festivals cancelled due to coronavirus

Queen + Adam Lambert

Queen + Adam Lambert have postponed the UK leg of their summer 2020 Rhapsody tour until 2021 due to coronavirus. The run will start on 1 June 2021 in London, before going to Manchester, Birmingham and returning to London to close the tour.

Download Festival

In sad but completely expected news, Download Festival was cancelled on 26th March. Organisers confirmed Download Festival won't be going ahead because of the coronavirus pandemic and they're "beyond disappointed" to break the news.
Assuring fans they will be back in 2021, Download Festival added: "We'll do our best to put together an amazing line up for you in 2021 and can't wait to see you all then."
Those with tickets can hold onto them for 2021.

Van Der Graaf Generator

Van Der Graaf Generator's May tour has been pushed back until November 2020 due to the coronavirus. The new dates are:
NOVEMBER 2020
Manchester Bridgewater Hall – Mon 16th
Bath The Forum – Tue 17th
London The Palladium – Thu 19th
Edinburgh Queen's Hall – Sat 21st

Isle of Wight Festival

At the exact same time Download Festival was cancelled, Isle of Wight Festival organisers announced the event wouldn't be going ahead. They explained it was "unavoidable" given the turbulent goings-on in the world and vowed to come back stronger in 2021 when Isle of Wight Festival – the UK's oldest music festival – celebrates its 53rd anniversary.

Zeppelin Symphonic

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King King

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OCTOBER 2020
Bexhill De La Warr Pavilion - Fri 16th


FEBRUARY 2021
York Grand Opera House - Wed 3rd
Manchester Academy - Fri 5th
Sheffield Leadmill - Sat 6th
Cardiff Y Plas - Sun 7th
Birmingham Town Hall - Tue 9th
London Electric Ballroom - Sat 13th
Salisbury City Hall - Sun 14th
Bury St Edmunds The Apex Arts Centre - Tue 16th
Newcastle Boiler Shop - Wed 17th
Glasgow Old Fruitmarket - Thu 18th

Rock The Boat

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Gun

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SEPTEMBER 2020
Cambridge Portland Arms – 20th
Cardiff The Globe – 21st
Nottingham Rescue Rooms – 22nd
Manchester Night People – 23rd
Newcastle The Cluny – 24th
Keighley Studio 5 Live – 25th

The Who

The Who postponed their entire March/April UK arena tour plus their headline slot at the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series on Saturday 28th March. The Who's UK arena dates have been rescheduled for March 2021 and Teenage Cancer Trust will be rearranged at a later date.

Glastonbury

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Saxon reschedule tour

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AUGUST 2020
Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom – Sat 8th
SEPTEMBER 2020
London Eventim Apollo – Sat 5th
Manchester O2 Apollo – Sun 6th
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Foo Fighters

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Fish

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Francis Rossi

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Alice Cooper

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Magnum

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Evanscence and Within Temptation

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William Duvall

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Rage Against The Machine

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Lynyrd Skynyrd

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Steve Hackett

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame postponed

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The Wildhearts

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Massive Wagons

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Santana

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Whitesnake

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KISS

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Green Day

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Sons of Apollo

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Queen + Adam Lambert

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Pearl Jam

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Michael Schenker Fest

On Wednesday 4th March Michael Schenker Fest axed their Japanese tour, writing: "It's with great sadness that we have to cancel the Michael Schenker Fest tour in Japan due to the spread of the coronavirus. You'll be able to claim a refund for your tickets, Stay safe and sorry for the disappointment." At the time of writing, Michael Schenker Fest's UK dates are going ahead as planned.

Guns N' Roses

The rock legends' Not in This Lifetime... Tour was due to visit Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in Costa Rica on Wednesday 18th March but was pulled exactly a week beforehand because of coronavirus. Guns N' Roses have vowed to play the concert at a later date.

Sammy Hagar & The Circle

On 10th March, Sammy Hagar announced the cancellation of The Circle's shows in Chile and Brazil because of the coronavirus. The former Van Halen frontman explained: "The decision has been made along with the local promoters in order to reduce potential health risks in response to the current global health crisis."

Yes

On 12th March, Yes pulled their mini US tour and appearance on their own Cruise to the Edge festival in March/April 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Guitarist Steve Howe said: "Although YES performs with the spirit that 'the show must go on,' we've reached the point where various factors require us to cancel our forthcoming U.S. dates and cancel our appearances on the 7th Cruise To The Edge. We are full of regret, as we've been preparing for these shows with maximum excitement.

Coachella Festival

On 11th March, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in California was officially postponed until the autumn because of the Coronavirus outbreak. "At the direction of the County of Riverside and local health authorities, we must sadly confirm the rescheduling of Coachella and Stagecoach due to COVID-19 concerns," promoters Goldenvoice wrote. Rage Against The Machine headline the Friday night this October.

South by Southwest

Just days after Ozzy Osbourne and Nine Inch Nails pulled out of their appearances, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas was postponed altogether on 7th March. The move was ordered by Austin Mayor Steve Adler, who declared "a local disaster" as the reason behind the decision. South by Southwest (SXSW) said they were "devastated" by the unprecedented decision.

Poison's Bret Michaels

Poison vocalist Bret Michaels aborted his appearance aboard the '80s Cruise due to the coronavirus and health concerns. His representatives said: "Bret Michaels, a lifelong Type1 Diabetic, falls under the category of those that run the extreme high risk of contracting this illness. Even if this illness is not contracted by Bret, he runs the risk of being quarantined on the ship with fellow music fans that might fall ill." An extremely understandable cancellation.

Machine Head

On 11th March, Machine Head postponed their UK and European Tour including their dates at London Alexandra Palace and Birmingham O2 Academy at the start of June. Explaining why they are postponing the shows, which were due to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album 'Burn My Eyes', Machine Head wrote: "Of paramount importance to us is the health and safety of the Head Cases. We've worked hard with all our management, booking agents, and business associates to find other solutions or options, but the levels of risk to our audience and their communities is simply too high for our comfort level."

My Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance issued a statement in the early hours of 12th March confirming their Japanese shows won't be going ahead. "The promoter of our Japan shows suggested that we postpone the shows in Japan for the safety of the public, and we are heeding that advice," My Chemical Romance said. "We are terribly sad to postpone, and even more distressed about what is happening the world over." Download Festival Australia has also been cancelled.

Devin Townsend

Devin Townsend has postponed the final dates of his 'Empath Vol. 1 North American Tour'. "With the travel ban in effect from Europe and the consequent chaos that has brought to travel plans, as well as the increasing social unrest, combined with the fact that half of this crew is either European or from the UK, it put us in a tenuous position," Devin Townend said. He also insisted: "This is a postponement, not a cancellation. And your support has been tremendous thus far."

Lamb of God

The heavy metallers have axed their entire European tour due to coronavirus. "Unfortunately, our upcoming European/UK tour will be postponed due to the various band on public gatherings and travel restrictions," Lamb of God said in a statement. "We also wouldn't want to put fans, crew or bands in danger or risk further spread of the virus."

The Who’s postponed shows are as follows:

MARCH 2020

Manchester Arena – 16th

Newcastle Metro Radio Arena – 21st

Glasgow The SSE Hydro – 23rd

Leeds First Direct Arena – 25th

London Royal Albert Hall (Teenage Cancer Trust) – 28th

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena – 30th

APRIL 2020

Birmingham Resorts World Arena – 1st

Nottingham Motorpoint Arena – 3rd

Liverpool M&S Bank Arena – 6th

London The SSE Arena, Wembley – 8th