Mogwai have been forced to postpone the remainder of their North American tour, including two Canadian stops, because of their drummer’s ill health.
Martin Bulloch, 34, had been having issues with his pacemaker during the tour and was hospitalized following the Glaswegian band’s Sunday performance at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in upstate New York.
“The doctors there initially thought I would have to have corrective surgery at a larger hospital nearer NYC but I have been given the all clear to travel home on the understanding that I go straight to my cardiologist on arrival back in Scotland,” Bulloch wrote on his band’s website.
“Tbh, I’m really bummed about having to go home and feel for the folk who had bought tickets for our upcoming shows but I can honestly say it would be almost impossible for me to carry on at this point as my pacemaker has broken skin and the surrounding area has become infected.”
Among the handful of U.S. and Canadian shows Mogwai have postponed were Tuesday’s show at Montreal’s Metropolis and tonight’s (Wednesday’s) show at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre.
The shows will be rescheduled for some time in 2009, with a new early spring date for Toronto to be announced shortly.
Tickets will be honoured on the rescheduled date, though refunds are also available at points of purchase.
Mogwai had been touring with supporting act Fuck Buttons in anticipation of their sixth studio album, “The Hawk is Howling,” which hit stores Tuesday.
Their upcoming dates in Europe and Japan, beginning with Oct. 21 in Edinburgh, will go ahead as planned.
