Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil recently announced that he has canceled his solo appearance at RokIsland Fest 2023, set to take place next week (from January 17 to 21) in Key West, Florida, due to having just been diagnosed with the disease owing to the pandemic.
The Mötley Crüe leader released the following statement regarding his absence:
“Hello RokIsland Friends, I am sad to report that yesterday I was diagnosed with Covid. I am okay but this thing is really kickin’ my ass. All that being said, I am unable to perform at RokIsland Fest next week.
“I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to the RokIsland Fest organizers and most of all my friends and fans. I am disappointed to say the least. I was so looking forward to this show.
I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to make this up in 2024.
“In closing, I wish all the attendees of RokIsland Fest 2023 a fun and exciting time with all the other amazing acts.”
It is not known if Neil’s diagnosis will affect Mötley Crüe’s upcoming touring plans remains to be seen. The band is scheduled to tour worldwide with Def Leppard within the next six-to-eight months, including an intimate heading to Latin/South America and Europe first, and then some U.S. dates with Alice Cooper.
The Crüe and Def Leppard — who will also be playing an intimate show together in Florida before the tour — teamed up together for a highly-successful “Stadium Tour” in the summer of last year.
The upcoming tours will most notably be Mötley Crüe’s first with former Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 as a fill-in for Mick Mars, who announced last October that he was retiring from touring because of health concerns. Despite this, it has become clear that Mars is not officially leaving the band.