The band is calling it a “time-sensitive but routine” procedure

Ann Wilson Heart live
Ann Wilson of Heart [Courtesy]

Rock icons Heart have canceled their upcoming European tour. The band announced Wednesday that vocalist Ann Wilson will undergo a “time-sensitive but routine medical procedure,” and it will take her at least six weeks to recover. The wrapped up the first leg of their North American run on May 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Read the band’s full statement below.

“We regret to inform you that all upcoming Heart performances in Europe are canceled,” the band said in a statement. “In late May, Ann Wilson will undergo a time-sensitive but routine medical procedure for which the minimum recovery time is six weeks. Heart deeply regrets this unfortunate circumstance and hopes to return to Europe soon. Refunds will be available at point of purchase.”

Last month, Heart doubled up on their Royal Flush Tour. The group, led by vocalist Ann Wilson and guitarist Nancy Wilson, previously confirmed a string of dates with very special guest Cheap Trick and Squeeze. The shows surround their massive stadium tour commitments with Def Leppard and Journey this summer. Now, the band has extended the run into December with 31 additional headlining shows. Very special guests include Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience on select dates.

“Excited to announce the Royal Flush Tour 2024 with special guests Cheap Trick,” Heart previously said in a statement. “Can’t wait!”

The band’s massive run wraps up on December 15 at the Fontainebleau Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Check out the full tour itinerary below.

“We’re excited and all geared up to hit the road in 2024 to perform for our devoted fans,” Ann Wilson shared in a statement. “The exceptional talent of the band — Ryan (Wariner, guitar), Ryan (Waters, guitar), Paul (Moak, guitar), Tony (Lucido, bass), and Sean (Lane, drums) — brings a whole new level of energy to Heart’s live performance.”

Nancy Wilson added, “I am incredibly proud of the show that our band has crafted and am looking forward to reconnecting with our fans,” she said. “We can’t wait to share our music with everyone and celebrate the big electric energy of a completely live on the spot rock show.”

In addition to their new headlining shows and previously announced dated with Def Leppard and Journey, Heart also recently confirmed an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in April, alongside a stacked lineup that includes Foo Fighters, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Heart, Bonnie Raitt, The Killers, Greta Van Fleet, Hozier, Vampire Weekend, The Revivalists, Joe Bonamassa, The Wallflowers, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, The Allman Betts Band, Samantha Fish, and The Rolling Stones.

Last October, fans at Ann Wilson’s Santa Rosa, California show were treated to a monumental surprise. For the show’s encore, Ann brought out a very special guest – none other than her sister and fellow Heart member, Nancy Wilson. The duo had not shared a stage together since 2019, but reunited for a raucous performance of the band’s classic 1977 hit, “Barracuda.” Check out fan-filmed footage of the performance HERE.

Nancy Wilson live 2023 Matt Bishop
Nancy Wilson [The Rock Revival]

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have an answer to a question with us tonight,” Ann said to the crowd. “A very, very good friend of mine – more than a friend. Let’s bring her out. Come on.”

On October 24, Heart confirmed a special performance on New Year’s Eve [December 31] at Climate Pledge Arena in their hometown of Seattle, Washington along with very special guests Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening. Building off the momentum, the group also confirmed another headlining jaunt at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California on December 28.

Heart’s last album, Beautiful Broken, arrived back in 2016 through Concord Records. The group’s sixteenth studio effort, it peaked at No. 9 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart. Consisting of mostly re-imagined songs from the band’s previous outings, the record did include two new tracks – “Two” and “I Jump.”

Shortly after the record’s release, the group when on hiatus due to tensions between the Wilson sisters. They reconciled for a tour in 2019, which was the last time they would perform together until last October in California. Over the last two years, both Ann and Nancy have been touring with their respective solo bands. The Wilson sisters are, reportedly, working on new Heart music together.

Throughout their career, Heart have sold more than 35 million records and performed over 2,500 shows worldwide.

The band’s legacy is still incredibly strong, and the group is now influencing a whole new generation of artists. Recently, hard rock upstarts Plush released a cover of Heart’s mega-hit, “Barracuda.” The track, produced by Johnny K (Megadeth, Disturbed, Sevendust), is from the group’s new EP, Find the Beautiful, which arrived on January 19 thought Pavement Entertainment.

The tireless Cheap Trick had a busy year in 2023, touring alongside Rod Stewart in addition to their own headlining shows. In 2021, the road warriors released their 20th studio album, In Another World. The record debuted in the Top 10 on several Billboard charts, and featuring signature songs like “Light Up the Fire,” “Boys & Girls & Rock N Roll,” and “The Summer Looks Good on You.”

This year, Squeeze are celebrating 50 years as a band. They released their fifteenth studio album, The Knowledge, back in 2017.

Heart 2024 tour dates

June 20 – Dessel, BE – Graspop Metal Meeting [CANCELED]
June 22 – Berlin, DE – UberEats Music Hall* [CANCELED]
June 24 – Stockholm, SE – Grona Lund* [CANCELED]
June 25 – Helsinki, FI – Ice Hall* [CANCELED]
June 27 – Oslo, NO – Tons of Rock Festival [CANCELED]
June 30 – Clisson, FR – Hellfest [CANCELED]
July 1 – London, UK – The O2% [CANCELED]
July 3 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Birmingham% [CANCELED]
July 5 – Nottingham, UK – Capital FM Arena% [CANCELED]
July 6 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena% [CANCELED]
July 8 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena% [CANCELED]
July 9 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro% [CANCELED]
July 11 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU – Rockhal – Club* [CANCELED]
July 12 – Weert, NL – Bospop Festival [CANCELED]

July 30 – Cleveland, OH – Progressive Field@
August 1 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre@
August 2 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre@
August 5 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park@
August 7 – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre*
August 8 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre*
August 10 – Albany, NY – MVP Arena*
August 11 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center*
August 13 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center*
August 15 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum*
August 16 – Hinckley, MN – Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater
August 18 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena*
August 21 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena*
August 23 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum*
August 24 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson Boling Arena at Food City Center*
August 27 – Norfolk, VA – Scope Arena*
August 28 – Allentown, PA – The Great Allentown Fair
September 17 – Portland, OR – Moda Center*
September 20 – West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center*
September 22 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
September 26 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center*
September 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena*
September 29 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center*
October 2 – Lubbock, TX – United States Supermarkets Arena*
October 4 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center*
October 5 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center^
October 8 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center*
October 10 – Austin, TX – Moody Center*
October 12 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena*
October 14 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena*
October 16 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum*
October 17 – Charleston, SC – North Charleston Coliseum*
October 19 – Charlottesville, VA – John Paul Jones Arena*
October 21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*
November 13 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Aren at BJCC^
November 14 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum^
November 16 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena^
November 19 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena^
November 21 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The MARK^
November 22 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center^
November 24 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre#
November 27 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre#
November 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place#
November 30 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome#
December 3 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum*
December 5 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena*
December 7 – Boise, ID – Extra Mile Arena*
December 9 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center*
December 12 – Bakersfield, CA – Mechanics Bank Arena
December 13 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena*
December 15 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Theatre

*with Cheap Trick
@with Journey and Def Leppard
%with Squeeze
#with Bachman-Turner Overdrive

^with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience