Alkaline Trio abruptly canceled their UK tour on Friday, just hours before they were scheduled to perform in Birmingham. The punk rock band cited frontman Matt Skiba's worsening health issues as the reason for pulling out of the show and the remainder of the tour.
"We are immensely sorry but we must cancel our dates in England, including tonight's show in Birmingham, due to medical issues Matt has been suffering from that have worsened," the band stated. They added that Skiba would be treated in the United States and that they intended to return to touring once he had recovered. Refunds for tickets were made available to fans.
Skiba, 50, later shared details of his symptoms in a video message recorded at Heathrow Airport while awaiting his flight back to the U.S. He described experiencing numbness in his hands and feet and losing his voice, stating, "I can't really talk, walk, play, or sing." He assured fans that he was okay and would seek medical attention upon his return.
This health emergency follows a motorcycle crash Skiba experienced less than a week prior to the tour's European leg. On June 27, he posted on Instagram about the crash, stating he was "jacked up" but was attempting to manage his recovery by elevating his legs and staying hydrated.
In addition to his work with Alkaline Trio, Skiba served as a guitarist and vocalist for Blink-182 from 2015 to 2022, stepping in for Tom DeLonge. He is a founding member of Alkaline Trio, which formed in 1996. The band achieved commercial success with their 2001 album "From Here to Infirmary" and saw further popularity with their 2003 release "Good Mourning," which reached No. 20 on the Billboard 200 chart. Their tenth studio album, "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs," was released in 2024 to critical acclaim.