Concern for Jeff Lynne, 77, as Electric Light Orchestra show is cancelled at the Co Op Live in Manchester after packed stadium waited for the star to step on stage
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Concern has grown for Electric Light Orchestra’s frontman Jeff Lynne, after the band were forced to cancel their show in Manchester on Thursday night.
Thousands of fans were in attendance at the city’s Co Op Arena for the show, but after waiting for Jeff to take to the stage, were told the performance would not go ahead as planned.
Jeff, 77, had previously been battling a broken hand while performing with ELO during their farewell tour, with fans sharing their concern for him following their first show in Manchester on Wednesday.
A representative for the band told MailOnline: ‘Unfortunately due to illness tonight’s (Thursday 10th July 2025) scheduled performance of Jeff Lynne’s ELO at the Co-Op Live will not going ahead. Jeff is devastated he cannot perform this evening.
‘More information will become available as soon as possible. For refunds please go to your point of purchase.’
Those in attendance for the show shared snaps of written notices they’d received revealing the ‘event could not continue.’
Concern has grown for Electric Light Orchestra’s frontman Jeff Lynne, after the band cancelled their show in Manchester at the last minute on Thursday night
One snap shared on X featured the written notice, which read: ‘We regret to inform you that due to unforeseen circumstances, today’s event cannot continue.
‘Please check our social channels over the next few days for further information, including on any rescheduled dates and refunds.’
And many fans were quick to share their upset that the concert had been axed, with some complaining they’d been given just ’15 minutes notice.’
Posts on X included: ‘Hoping people get compensated for Jeff Lynne ELO tonight. There’s being unwell and then there’s cancelling 15 minutes due before coming on. People will have hotels booked, transport. Drinks, merchandise.
‘The concert that never was. Cancelled with 45mins to go �� get well soon Jeff Lynne @JeffLynnesELO @TheCoopLive @clarkokg
‘Been sat in @CoopManchester live waiting for @JeffLynnesELO the organisers have waited until everybody sat down before they announced Jeff Lynne wouldn’t be playing;’
‘That’s after everyone spent out on parking,food and merch. Wish Jeff Lynne well but organisers terrible managing;’
‘I’m not being funny, understand Jeff Lynne’s ill. But waiting for hours only to tell us at 8:15pm is a bit pathetic;’
‘Get well soon Jeff Lynne. however. I read comments that he didn’t look well last night. If they called it. Why couldn’t his team? But hey, got some drinks and merchandise sales out of us!’
After ELO’s first concern in Manchester the previous evening, some fans had shared concern for Jeff after learning he’d performed despite suffering a broken hand.
Posts included: ‘Was very lucky to see Jeff Lynne in concert in Manchester tonight. The gig was magnificent but I left feeling very worried about Jeffs health.
‘He looked really frail and had to be physically walked off stage at the end. I hope you wake up rested and feeling much better Jeff.’
‘Amazing last night. Poor Jeff Lynne had an accident in a cab in London and has a broken hand, he was definitely missing his guitar. I hope he’s feeling better when you see him.’
ELO are currently in the middle of their farewell tour, and Jeff revealed last year they’re set to play their final show at BST Hyde Park 2025 on Sunday.
Speaking to The Times, he said: ‘My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014. It seems like the perfect place to do our final show.
‘We couldn’t be more excited to share this special night in London with our UK fans. As the song goes, “we’re gonna do it One More Time!”‘
Jeff has been the longest serving member of the rock group, which has gone through many different incarnations over the years.
He disbanded the band in 1986, with drummer Bev setting up ELO Part II, which later became known as the Orchestra.
Following a brief reunion in 2000, Jeff finally re-formed the group as Jeff Lynne’s ELO alongside the band’s original keyboardist Richard Tandy.
Richard had joined ELO as a bassist in 1972 before becoming the band’s full-time keyboardist.
However, he tragically passed away last year at the age of 76, with Jeff announcing the news in May.
He took to his Facebook write: ‘It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy.
‘He was a remarkable musician & friend and I’ll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together. Sending all my love to Sheila & the Tandy Family.’
ELO sold over 50 million records worldwide during their initial 13 year-run and Jeff, Richard, Roy and Bev were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
Their most well-known and signature song is Mr. Blue Sky, released in 1978 on their seventh studio album Out of the Blue.
It is a frequent song choice in popular media, being used in films and TV shows such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Doctor Who, as well as during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The track was written and produced by Jeff, who told Rolling Stone: ‘I suppose this is my most well-known song.
‘Everybody tells me something different about it. It’s even got crazy appeal to kids since it’s like a nursery rhyme.’
Reflecting on his inspiration for the hit, he said: ‘I remember writing the words down. I was at a chalet in the mountains of Switzerland, and it was all misty and cloudy all the way around.
‘I didn’t see any countryside for the first four days or so, and then everything cleared, and there was this enormous view forever, and the sky was blue.’
