Lewis Capalidi cancels tour due to Tourette syndrome
LONDON –
Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi said on Tuesday he is taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future to adjust to the impact of Tourette’s syndrome.
His announcement follows his performance on Saturday at the Glastonbury Festival, where he seemed to lose his voice and the crowd carried him through his songs.
“First of all I would like to thank Glastonbury for hosting me, for singing along when I needed it and for all the great messages after that,” he said in a statement.
“The fact that this probably won’t come as a surprise doesn’t make it any easier to write, but I’m very sorry to let you know that I will be taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future.” he added.
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes individuals to make involuntary sounds and movements, often referred to as tics. Capaldi revealed last September that he had been diagnosed with the condition.
Capaldi, 26, was scheduled to perform in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday. His current tour, which would include Australia, South Korea and Iceland, would culminate on October 7 in the United Arab Emirates.
In his statementCapaldi said he was “still learning to adapt to the impact of my Gilles de la Tourette and on Saturday it became clear that I need to spend a lot more time getting my mental and physical health in order so that I I can continue to do everything I like for a long time to come.”
In an interview with The Associated Press in April following the release of a Netflix documentary about the Grammy-nominated star, Capaldi said he was glad his symptoms had been diagnosed. At the time, he said he tried “not to learn too much” about Gilles de la Tourette because it would often make his condition worse.
The documentary, titled “How I’m Feeling Now,” depicts the fear and anxiety that plagued Capaldi as he returned to Scotland and attempted to write new songs during the pandemic.
