Jeff Lynne, 77, has been forced to cancel what was to be the final performance of Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) at BST Hyde Park on July 13, 2025, citing a severe systemic infection. Festival organizers confirmed the entire day’s event has been called off, with ticket holders set to receive full refunds.
Lynne’s statement expressed deep regret and sorrow: “Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule. The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today … he must focus on his health and rehabilitation”.
This cancellation follows a similarly sudden decision on July 10, when the Co-Op Live show in Manchester was cancelled just minutes before it was scheduled to begin. Fans had already gathered before a brief notice appeared announcing that Lynne was too unwell to perform.
The Hyde Park show was intended to be the capstone of ELO’s “Over and Out” farewell tour, which began in North America in 2024 and continued into Europe. It marked a symbolic full circle: Jeff Lynne first revived ELO onstage at Hyde Park in 2014 after a 25-year hiatus. He previously commented: “My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014. It seems like the perfect place to do our final show.As the song goes, ‘we’re gonna do it One More Time!’”.
Organizers confirmed that the Sunday, July 13 festival dates have been cancelled, advising ticket holders to await refund instructions from their point of purchase . With this cancellation, Stevie Wonder’s Saturday night show on July 12 will now mark the official close of BST Hyde Park 2025 .
Jeff Lynne founded Electric Light Orchestra in Birmingham, UK, in 1970 alongside Roy Wood and Bev Bevan. The band fused orchestral arrangements with pop-rock, producing enduring hits like “Mr. Blue Sky.” After disbanding in 1986, Lynne resurrected ELO as Jeff Lynne’s ELO in 2014. The group released two new albums—Alone in the Universe (2015) and From Out of Nowhere (2019)—and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Lynne also earned an OBE in 2020 for services to music .
Touring at his age has had physical demands. Earlier in the UK leg, Lynne performed shows in Birmingham while playing seated and without guitar after suffering a broken hand in a taxi accident. Despite that, he soldiered on, though likely accelerated by health concerns that culminated in the Hyde Park cancellation.
The sudden cancellation has left many fans disappointed but understanding. One festival-goer noted: “So disappointing… but the main thing is to wish Jeff a full and speedy recovery”. Another X post following the Manchester cancellation reflected similar concern: “Get well soon Jeff. We were at Manchester… were concerned about you then”.
Though this cancels ELO’s planned live farewell, Lynne has previously emphasized that he intends to continue working in the studio: “This is not a farewell to music. I am excited to return to the studio full-time, which is what I love!” he said in December 2024 . His legacy transcends live performance, spanning cultural impact, production collaborations from the Traveling Wilburys to The Beatles Anthology, and orchestral-pop innovation .
As Jeff Lynne focuses on recovery, fans are left cherishing ELO’s rich catalog of timeless songs and the memory of their storied career. While the final curtain closed earlier than planned, his influence on music endures.