Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has issued a detailed statement shedding light on the sudden “medical reasons” that forced Blackmore’s Night to scrap the remainder of their U.S. East Coast tour. The renaissance-folk rock group, fronted by Blackmore and his wife Candice Night, was compelled to postpone the final four dates of their six-show run after the guitarist fell ill.
In a statement released yesterday, November 23, Blackmore revealed that he was rushed to the hospital following a harrowing experience at a hotel in New Jersey. While the musician has a history of spinal issues, he attributed this specific medical emergency to a combination of poor lodging conditions and a history of ocular migraines, which culminated in a diagnosis of severe vertigo.
The cancellations affect the concerts previously scheduled for the Newton Theater in Newton, New Jersey (November 15), The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware (November 20), Cohoes Music Hall in Cohoes, New York (November 23), and Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, New York (November 29).
Blackmore provided a full account of the incident and his current health status in the following statement:
“Very quick history, for those who have nothing better to do: I have a long history of lumbar and neck herniated discs. Consequently, I would have back injections before a tour to help me over the pain. Recently, I have acquired debilitating migraines. They come and go very quickly. When I see the visual disturbance of these ocular migraines, I know they are coming.
“When we did the long drive from Pennsylvania to Newton NJ we were booked into a hotel that had a wedding party going all night in the corridors. There was no heat in the room and the sheets were still damp. Which I assume culminated in me having a severe migraine attack. I couldn’t stop vomiting. The room wouldn’t stop spinning and I was extremely dizzy to the point of not being able to stand. Ambulance was called. I was taken to hospital and they gave me CAT scans and other tests. They were very gracious. The doctors came to the conclusion that my official diagnosis was severe vertigo. The results of this went on for days on end. I am now following up how serious these migraines are with various doctors.
“When one tours, you have a lot of people who have to be healthy. Unfortunately, I was the one who got hit this time.
“Hope to see you all one day again when I’m healthy.
“All the best, Ritchie, a guitarist”
The band has not yet announced rescheduled dates as Blackmore continues to consult with medical professionals regarding the severity of his migraines.
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