Pearl Jam has postponed its previously announced spring U.S. tour due to concerns over the coronavirus. The 16-date trek in support of the band's upcoming Gigaton album was scheduled to kick off on March 18th in Toronto and wrap with a two-date stint in Oakland on April 18th and April 19th.
The band announced the tour postponement in a social media post earlier today, writing, “As residents of the city of Seattle, we've been hit hard and have witnessed firsthand how quickly these disastrous situations can escalate. Our kids' schools have closed along with universities and businesses. It's been brutal and it's gonna get worse before it gets better.”
The band continued, “We have and will always keep the safety and well-being of our supporters as top priority. So it is with deep frustration and regret that we are forced to make this most unfortunate of announcements. This scheduled first leg of our PJ/Gigaton tour will need to be postponed and shows rescheduled for a later date.”
The band added that it “worked hard . . . to find other solutions or options but the levels of risk to our audience and their communities is simply too high for our comfort level.” Pearl Jam noted that many of their fans travel extensively to see them and that travel is not considered a good idea right now.
The statement also noted, “It certainly hasn't helped that there's been no clear messages from our government regarding people's safety and our ability to go to work. Having no examples of our national health department's ability to get ahead of this, we have no reason to believe that it will be under control in the coming weeks ahead.”
Two September festivals that the band was just confirmed for, Ohana Festival in California and Sea.Hear.Now in Asbury Park, New Jersey, remain on the schedule for now.
