American rock band Pearl Jam canceled a concert in Vienna on Wednesday after singer Eddie Vedder's vocal cords were damaged by the heat, dust and smoke of a fire at an outdoor venue near Paris.
“For all those who were looking forward to a great Pearl Jam show in Vienna tonight, we were too. However, due to the extreme conditions at the final outdoor venue outside Paris (heat, dust and smoke from the fire) our Singer Ed Vedder's throat was damaged,” the group said in a statement posted on Instagram on Wednesday.
“He saw doctors and treated him but as of now, his vocal cords have not healed. This is brutal news and a terrible time… for everyone involved. ,
Pearl Jam performed at the Lollapalooza Paris music festival over the weekend amid a heat wave with spikes above 40 Celsius (104F) in southern Europe.
Firefighters in southwestern France have been battling massive wildfires since July 12, while Britain recorded its highest ever temperature on Tuesday.
Pearl Jam said, "For the people who work so hard to get into the show as well as those who give their precious time and energy to participate..., as a band, we are deeply sorry and right now. Have also tried to find alternatives to play."
"And Ed wants to play. There's no throat available at this time... So very, very deeply sorry."
The band said the ticket would be returned.
Wednesday's Vienna concert was part of Pearl Jam's European tour, with the next stop in Prague scheduled for Friday...Reuters