Sick Paul McCartney postpones all concerts in Japan, South Korea

Paul McCartney is definitely sick with a virus, and his shows in Japan and South Korea have been postponed, but reports out Thursday saying he’d been hospitalized remain unconfirmed until the afternoon.

“Since contracting a virus last week that led to the postponement of tour dates, Paul received successful medical treatment at a hospital in Tokyo,” McCartney’s rep said in a statement. “He will make a complete recovery and has been ordered to take a few days rest. Paul has been extremely moved by all the messages and well wishes he has received from fans all over the world.”

The former Beatle, 71, told fans Saturday on his official website that he was ill and couldn’t play that night. That show was initially postponed until Monday.

“Following a visit from doctors, I’ve been told not to perform tonight,” McCartney said online. “I am very sorry to all my fans as I was greatly looking forward to the concert, but the situation is out of my hands.”

The next day, the Sunday and rescheduled Monday shows at Tokyo’s National Stadium were postponed, with concerts in Osaka and Seoul now falling into that same queue. The Seoul show would have been the musician’s first gig in South Korea, his publicist told Reuters.

“Doctors have ordered Paul complete rest and he has been doing all he can to get better. Paul has only ever had to reschedule a handful of shows in his entire career and is so upset about this situation, he hates to let people down,” a statement on McCartney’s site said Sunday.

“This morning he told his staff he was going to try and perform tonight against doctors orders, but his team, along with the doctors, wouldn’t allow it.”

McCartney, who arrived in Tokyo a week ago, greeted by a crush of fans, is now expected to take the stage next on June 14 in Lubbock, Texas. Pictures taken Monday showed a number of fans rallying outside his hotel in Tokyo.

After Lubbock, the cute Beatle will squeeze in his June 18 birthday between shows in Dallas and New Orleans. He’s scheduled to perform at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 10.

A Reuters video report out early Thursday cited a Japanese sports daily, Sankei Sports, as saying the rock ‘n’ roll legend was actually in a hospital in Tokyo, and showed a hospital it claimed was the one in question. However, there was no confirmation from the hospital. Another story out of that news service’s London bureau early Thursday did not mention hospitalization.

McCartney’s reps declined further comment on the star’s health Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

McCartneyposted this message to fans on his website and Facebook page on Sunday:

“Thank you so much for your kind messages of support. I’m so very touched. Unfortunately my condition has not improved overnight. I was really hoping that I’d be feeling better today. I’m so disappointed and sorry to be letting my fans down.”