Cut Diamond: Crooner cancels Kiwi shows
Napier’s Mission Concert organisers have less than 48 hours to decide whether to proceed with March’s show after the dramatic withdrawal of Neil Diamond yesterday.
Diamond, who turns 77 today, cancelled his New Zealand tour after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, saying the decision was made on doctors’ advice.
The March 17 show sold out before Christmas, with 25,000 people buying tickets. Diamond was also scheduled to appear at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
The cancellation came as a surprise to Mission Concert event director Garry Craft.
‘‘We had no idea he was dealing with Parkinson’s,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s obviously something he’s become aware of quite recently, and I mean within the last week or two.
‘‘My understanding was that they were trying to get medication that would allow him to do at least the two New Zealand shows, but doctors said: ‘Absolutely no way’.
‘‘It’s a very sad day for everyone, particularly Neil and his family.’’
Craft said he had not had the chance to decide how to proceed yet.
‘‘We’ve got some initial thoughts about the concert this year, but we need 48 hours to decide if we’re going to proceed with a concert or not.
‘‘We had carried out earthworks, logistics, hire cars, accommodation, air travel, equipment, trucks, labour – everything was all booked and ready to go.’’
Refunds would be offered to all who bought tickets, but insurance would not cover the organisers.
Craft, who has been involved in organising the Mission Concert for 16 years, said Diamond ‘‘had been one of the acts we have been chasing pretty much that whole time’’.
‘‘We finally got him across the line, the stars lined up – and now it’s not to be. He’s slipped away again, and this time it will be forever. He will never perform live again.’’
Diamond, the composer and singer of such songs as Sweet Caroline and Song Sung Blue, said in a statement that he would continue to write and record music, but would no longer tour.
Parkinson’s New Zealand chief executive Deirdre O’Sullivan said she was relieved to hear he would continue to work. Singing, as well as speech and language therapy, was a widely used treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
‘‘The sooner he can start getting advice from a speech language therapist and continue his singing, and keep doing all the right things, the longer he’ll be able to continue with his singing.’’
Reports implied he had been diagnosed very recently, she said. An early diagnosis meant sooner treatment.
She suspected the cancellation of the tour might be more to do with the difficulty of travel.
‘‘One of the symptoms people get with Parkinson’s is fatigue. I would imagine the travel [of touring] is pretty gruelling.’’
Diamond’s statement said: ‘‘It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honoured to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years.
‘‘This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you.’’