Elton John has been forced to delay the European and U.K. leg of his forthcoming farewell tour to undergo surgery after suffering a fall. 

The hitmaker, who will release his new album ‘The Lockdown Sessions’ in on October 22, was due to perform a string of dates for his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ trek in the autumn, but the trek has been stalled after Elton incurred the nasty injury. 

Confirming the dates will now take place in 2023, he said in a statement: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I am forced to reschedule the 2021 dates of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Europe and the UK to 2023.

“At the end of my summer break I fell awkwardly on a hard surface and have been in considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since.

“Despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving.

“I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications.

“I will be undertaking a programme of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and a return to full mobility without pain.”

Although the Rocket Man star will go ahead with his performance at the Global Citizen Live fundraiser on September 25, he won’t return to the concert stage until January 2022 at the earliest. 

He continued: “I am going to complete the charitable Global Citizen event on 25th September as I don’t want to let a charity down. 

“Being just five songs it’s a very different physical undertaking to the demands of playing for close to three hours every night on tour and travelling overnight between countries. 

“After this I will be having the operation to ensure the tour can get back on the road in January of 2022 in New Orleans.

“I know how patient my incredible fans have been since Covid halted touring last year, and it breaks my heart to keep you waiting any longer. 

I completely feel your frustrations after the year we’ve had. I promise you this – the shows will return to the road next year and I will make sure they are more than worth the wait.

“Love, Elton x.”

Elton’s tour began in 2018 but dates from 2020 onwards were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.