Legendary UK punk band abruptly axes California shows just hours before concert — citing mystery illness

Legendary British punk rockers The Damned have slammed the brakes on their upcoming Golden State shows, abruptly axing the rest of their California tour dates and postponing their San Francisco show after being crippled by a wave of mystery illnesses.

The musicians delivered the gut punching news directly to ticket holders on social media, admitting that a persistent barrage of viruses contracted on the road has left bandmates unable to perform.

“It is with great regret and considerable disappointment that we have to announce the cancellation of all remaining California shows on our current North American tour,” the band announced on Instagram today in a message to fans.

However, the San Francisco performance, which was scheduled for Nov. 11, was spared a permanent cancellation, with the rockers announcing that the show had been rescheduled for April 11.

“Since leaving the UK, we’ve been hit by one virus after another, and unfortunately some members of the band are now simply too ill to continue,” the group explained. The band did not disclose which members were sick or identify the illnesses responsible for bringing their tour to a halt.

“This is the last thing we wanted,” they wrote in the statement. “We’ve loved being out on the road and playing for you, and we’re genuinely gutted that we won’t be able to complete the remaining dates as planned.”

But the veteran rockers insisted they had little choice but to put their health ahead of the remaining performances.

“Sometimes you have to know when to hold em and when to fold em,” the band wrote. “Health has to come first, and we need to get ourselves fit and fighting again so we can return to the stage.” The group will be back in California in April 2027 for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and are set to perform on Friday, April 9 and 16.

Disappointed fans flooded social media with well wishes, although some worried about whether the aging punk pioneers would be healthy enough to return to the road. “You guys get well and speedy recovery see you in the US soon,” one fan commented on their Instagram post.

“None of us are getting any younger, and I guess the Damned 50 world gallivanting antics was always going to take its toll,” another fan wrote. “Still, we’re all here waiting for you when you’re better.”

In addition to tonight’s SF show, the illness wiped out stops in San Diego on Nov. 13, Huntington Beach on Nov. 14 and Los Angeles on Nov. 17. The shows were part of the band’s “Final Damnation 50” tour, celebrating 50 years since they formed in London.

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