Flu forces Elton John to cancel concerts

By Stephen M. Silverman, People.com

Singer Elton John was forced to postpone his gigs in the United States due to illness.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Elton John was treated in a London hospital for an e-coli bacterial infection
The musician is "absolutely fine," his spokesman Gary Farrow said
Shows in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, will be postponed
These Pacific Northwest gigs are likely to be rescheduled for December

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(People.com) -- The flu may be on everyone's minds, but it happens to be in Elton John's system -- prompting the British musician, who is said to be in a London hospital for treatment of E. coli bacterial infection and influenza, to postpone the Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, dates on his current tour, costarring Billy Joel, the BBC reported.

Monday morning, John's spokesman Gary Farrow told Reuters that, despite the hospitalization, Sir Elton, 62, was "absolutely fine" and hoped to return to entertaining soon.

According to his official Web site, Sir Elton postponed a Dublin performance on Thursday after earlier shelving concerts in London, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle.

The American leg of the tour was also put on hold in July, when Joel, 60, was ordered to rest after suffering "flu-like symptoms" and "extreme fatigue."

The Pacific Northwest gigs are likely to be rescheduled for December, according to promoters.