Elton John forced to postpone shows after injuring himself and requiring surgery

After having to delay his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour multiple times, Sir Elton John has been forced to push his upcoming tour dates to 2023 due to a recent injury.

The 74-year-old singer had been due to play already rescheduled cities in Britain and Europe this year, followed by shows in the US in 2022.

But today he revealed "with great sadness and a heavy heart" that a fall on a hard surface has left him in pain and requiring an operation on his hip.

He said in a statement that "despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving."

He continued: "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."

Noting his fans' patience throughout the pandemic, John added: "It breaks my heart to keep you waiting any longer... 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."

John announced in 2018 that this will be his final tour. The combination of the pandemic and now his injury have extended it three years longer than initially planned.

It was set to wrap up in December 2020, but a host of shows were postponed due to the pandemic, and now the rescheduled dates push it into 2023.

The music legend was also forced to cut his Auckland concerts short last year, leaving the stage about two-thirds of the way through his Mt Smart gig, after contracting "walking pneumonia" and losing his voice.