On December 3, Arch Enemy delivered a fully instrumental performance at El Foro Jai Alai in Tijuana, Mexico. Vocalist Alissa White-Gluz later addressed the situation on her personal Facebook page, revealing that she was extremely ill at the time.
White-Gluz revealed she was battling a bacterial infection affecting her upper body, which caused a 102-degree fever and pus discharge from unexpected areas. While she acknowledges that a full recovery may take some time, she assures fans she is feeling much better than before.
“Mexico – I [love] you! I am seriously blown away by this country. The nature is diverse and gorgeous; the people are warm, friendly, funny, creative and welcoming; the history is fascinating; the architecture is jaw-dropping; the rich culture of music and art is full of colour and beauty; the food is incredible (every city is like a vegan paradise)… I could go on.”
“Thank you so much for your understanding and well-wishes. I feel extremely guilty that I cannot give a normal show because you guys absolutely deserve it. I insisted that we should reschedule but that was apparently not possible.”
“This might be TMI but since the news is out already I just want these amazing fans in Mexico to know how serious this was and that it absolutely is killing me to not be able to give you 100%. Trust me – I have broken my ribs on stage and not missed a show, I have performed through bronchitis, complete laryngitis that took months to heal — everything. This is different. I had a doctor come to my hotel bed two days in a row and she said ‘she is experiencing a total collapse.’ My body is so exhausted that I have a hard time walking. I’m confused. Dizzy. Shaking.”
“A bacterial infection lodged in my ears and then aggressively spread to all the soft tissues of my upper body. Ears, eyes, throat, lungs, nose… I had pus leaking out of my EYES. Blood leaking out of my nose. I was freezing and sweating simultaneously and had a fever of 102F for over a week. And yes, I did several shows in this state. I was going into shock. It was an infection that was probably lingering for a long time and finally started winning — my body was losing and it was happening quickly. I think if I didn’t get the antibiotics when I did I would be hospitalized or dead right now. I have never experienced a more scary medical situation before in my life. This is also the most pain I have ever experienced and I have a very high pain tolerance (like most women).
“I can feel the love from you guys and it is honestly helping me heal. Thank you for your smiling faces in the crowd — they really do cheer me up. It will be several weeks or months before I fully recover but when I do — I am demanding that we come back here so I can give you guys the best concert of your lives. Seriously — I have fallen in love with you, Mexico, and I WILL be back to give you 1000% AWG”, she said.
The Tijuana concert was part of Arch Enemy‘s expansive 18-date Mexican tour, which kicked off on November 12 in Toluca and will conclude on December 11 in Mexico City. Footage from the performance is available below.
Arch Enemy‘s twelfth studio album, “Blood Dynasty“, is scheduled for release on March 28, 2025, via Century Media Records.
