TOM Jones was still in his hotel room at Edsa Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City, a few hours before his concert tonight, April 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, when he decided to cancel the show.
“He looked devastated,” said a source affiliated with Ovation Productions, promoter of the concert, who added that Jones immediately asked to be brought to the airport.
A statement released by Jones’ management said, “Due to serious illness in his immediate family, Tom Jones regretfully had to cancel his performance in Manila this evening. He extends his deepest apologies to both the organizers and the fans, who he is most sad to disappoint. There are no further details at this time.”
Initially the word was that it was Jones’ wife Linda who is ill, but this was denied by his management.
Ovation head Renen de Guia told Inquirer that everyone was caught by surprise by the unexpected turn of events.
In 2010, Jones had to cancel his Manila concert for the first time, reportedly due to laryngitis.
Around 8 p.m. Saturday at the Big Dome, ticket holders were seen milling around the venue’s entrance gates, most of them clueless on why the concert had to be called off.
Some had to content themselves by posing for photos beside a large Jones concert poster.
Meantime, Araneta management said that for tickets purchased at Ticketnet outlets and box office, refund will be available April 5-May 5, daily, 10 a.m-8 p.m. at the Ticketnet office, Yellow Gate, Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For tickets purchased online at ticketnet.com.ph, refund will automatically reverted to the credit card of the ticket buyer.
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