In a statement released on the band’s website, Depeche Mode have revealed that singer Dave Gahan successfully underwent surgery to have a "low-grade malignant tumour" removed from his bladder.
The band writes in their statement, "Depeche Mode are pleased to announce they will restart their interrupted Tour Of The Universe in Leipzig, Germany on June 8th. On May 12th, lead singer Dave Gahan suffered a severe bout of gastroenteritis, leading to his hospitalization and the cancellation of the Athens concert. While in hospital, further medical tests revealed a low-grade malignant tumour in Dave's bladder, which has since been successfully removed. At doctors' orders Dave Gahan must take a break until June 8th, to ensure that he makes a full recovery. The Leipzig show on June 8th will be the first concert following Dave's recovery."
They continue, "
Dave Gahan sincerely thanks his fans for their support, understanding and patience. Depeche Mode deeply regret any problems or inconveniences the cancellations and postponements may have caused."
Additionally, the band has posted a cohesive rundown of what shows will be affected by Gahan’s surgery. They write:
Affected Upcoming Shows
May 30th
London O2 is postponed and will be rescheduled to a new date, which will be announced shortly. Tickets purchased will remain valid.
May 31st
Depeche Mode's performance at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf is cancelled.
June 2nd
The show at the HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg will now take place on July 1st. Tickets purchased remain valid.
June 4th & 5th
The shows at Dusseldorf LTU Arena on June 4th and 5th will be rescheduled, however the exact dates cannot be determined until the 2nd Bundesliga releases its new schedule. Dates for the rescheduled shows are expected to be announced by early July. Ticket holders should retain their tickets for the rescheduled shows.
June 7th & 8th
Regrettably, the June 7th show in Leipzig must be cancelled due to doctors' orders, however the June 8th show will occur as planned. Tickets for the cancelled June 7th show may be exchanged for tickets to either the June 8th show in Leipzig or the June 10th show in Berlin (availability permitting) at the relevant box office.
July 2nd
Bergen, Koengen has been rescheduled to Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at the Vestlandhallen.
Shows Taking Place As Originally Planned
The following European shows are not affected and will take place as originally planned.
06/08 - Leipzig - Zentralstadion
06/10 - Berlin - Olympiastadion
06/12 - Frankfurt - Commerzbank Arena
06/13 - Munich - Olympiastadion
06/16 - Rome - Stadio Olimpico
06/18 - Milan - Stadio San Siro
06/20 - Werchter - TW Classic Festival
06/22 - Bratislava - Inter Stadium
06/23 - Budapest - Puskas Ferenc Stadium
06/25 - Prague - Slavia Stadium
06/27 - Paris - Stade de France
06/28 - Nancy - Zenith Amphitheatre
06/30 - Copenhagen - Parken Stadium
07/01 - Hamburg - (rescheduled show)
07/03 - Arvika - Arvika Festival
07/06 - Carcassonne - Esplanade Gambetta
07/08 - Valladolid - Jose Zorilla Stadium
07/09 - Bilbao - Live Festival
07/11 - Porto - Super Bock Super Rock Festival
07/12 - Seville - Olimpic Stadium
Furthermore, all dates following Seville on the Tour of the Universe will proceed as originally planned.
Cancelled Shows Still To Be Determined
Ticket holders for the previously cancelled shows listed below are encouraged to hold on to their tickets pending a further statement. Every effort continues to be made to reschedule these shows and more time is needed to resolve venue availability and routing. A final decision is expected early next week, at which time a statement will be made with regards to either a rescheduled date or final cancellation.
05/12 - Athens - Terra Vibe
05/14 - Istanbul - Santral Istanbul
05/16 - Bucharest - Parc Izvor
05/18 - Sofia - Vasil Levski
05/20 - Belgrade - USCE Park
05/21 - Zagreb - Arena
05/23 - Warsaw - Gwardia Stadium
05/25 - Riga - Skonto Stadium
05/27 - Vilnius - Zalgirio Stadionas
Report by David Lowe-Bianco.
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