Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney Reuters

Paul McCartney has been hospitalized in Tokyo due to a viral infection, forcing him to cancel the remaining shows on his tour of Japan and South Korea.

The former Beatle, 71, postponed some concert dates last week, but his condition worsened to the point where he had to cancel the rest of the tour, according to Fox News.

“I’d like to thank my Japanese fans for their love, messages of support and understanding,” McCartney said in a statement. “I hope to see you all again soon. Love, Paul.”

McCartney’s website lists the tour's shows in Osaka, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea, as postponed. He said he did not want to disappoint his fans by canceling shows -- a rare occurrence for the former Beatle.

"Doctors have ordered Paul complete rest and he has been doing all he can to get better," a statement posted Sunday on his website said. "Paul has only ever had to reschedule a handful of shows in his entire career and is so upset about this situation, he hates to let people down.

"This morning he told his staff he was going to try and perform tonight against doctors orders, but his team, along with the doctors, wouldn't allow it. He has been very moved by the fan's reactions and messages of love and support he has received in Japan."

Tokyo’s Sankei Sports newspaper was the first to report McCartney’s hospitalization.
McCartney is scheduled to tour the United States beginning on June 15 at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas, and ending at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on Aug. 13. His website doesn’t show that those dates are postponed.
Japan South Korea