Canadian punk rock band Sum 41 has called off their entire Australian tour, including their anticipated appearance at the Good Things Festival, as lead singer Deryck Whibley is "too unwell to perform."
The band announced the cancellation through social media on December 5, explaining that multiple Australian doctors had assessed Whibley's condition and advised against performing. The tour was scheduled to run from December 4-12, 2023.
"We were beyond excited to connect with our Aussie fans once more," the band stated. "We understand and appreciate your disappointment – we're gutted too."
The cancellation comes after the band had already suspended their December 4 show at Brisbane's Fortitude Valley Music Hall when Whibley was diagnosed with pneumonia. This marks a challenging period for the frontman, who was previously hospitalized in September 2023 with pneumonia and potential heart complications.
The Good Things Festival will proceed as planned in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane with its remaining lineup of local and international acts. Festival organizers expressed their support for Whibley's recovery while acknowledging fans' disappointment.
This tour was particularly meaningful as it was part of Sum 41's farewell run, following the release of their final album "Heaven :x: Hell" in March 2023. The band announced earlier this year that they would be disbanding after 27 years together, with their final show scheduled at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena in January 2025.
For Australian fans, this marks the second time they've missed seeing Sum 41 due to Whibley's health issues, with a similar cancellation occurring during the 2011 Soundwave Festival.