Latest news with #TheChristians'
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sting forced to cancel concert over severe weather
Sting has been forced to cancel a concert due to severe weather conditions. On Monday, the British musician took to Instagram to explain that he had cancelled his show in Italy the previous night due to "dangerous" weather conditions. Sting was scheduled to perform in the Parco Ragazzi del '99 park in Bassano del Grappa, a city in north-east Italy, as part of his ongoing Sting 3.0 tour. However, the show was abruptly cancelled due to severe thunderstorm warnings. "The mayor of Bassano del Grappa wisely said it would have been too dangerous for the performance to take place with the possibility of lightning and extremely high winds last night," the 73-year-old wrote in the post. He continued, "The safety of my audience, band and crew is paramount. I promise we will return as soon as we can." The news comes weeks after the Every Breath You Take singer was forced to delay one of his shows in the U.K. after The Christians' drummer, Lionel Duke, suffered a cardiac arrest on stage. The incident occurred while the band was opening for Sting in Liverpool, England. Following the collapse, a privacy screen was erected on stage, and medics attended to Lionel. Sting, real name Gordon Sumner, later addressed the audience, stating that the drummer was recovering in the hospital. Sting kicked off his tour on 25 May 2024 and is set to perform in Rome, Italy on Monday, followed by a performance in Udine on Wednesday.
Wales Online
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Drummer suffers heart attack on stage at festival
Drummer suffers heart attack on stage at festival Lionel Duke, drummer for Liverpool band The Christians, suffered the cardiac arrest early into their set, the final support act before Sting was due to perform at the On The Waterfront festival at Liverpool's Pier Head on Sunday night. The Christians were playing on stage for the On The Waterfront festival, when their drummer, Lionel Duke, collapsed with a suspected 'cardiac arrest' (image from previous show) (Image: Jonathon Cuff/handout ) A music festival was halted after a drummer collapsed on stage with a heart attack as thousands of fans watched. Lionel Duke, drummer for Liverpool band The Christians, suffered the cardiac arrest early into their set, the final support act before Sting was due to perform at the On The Waterfront festival at Liverpool's Pier Head on Sunday night. Mr Duke was given emergency first aid before being taken to a local hospital, with the thousands at the event being updated that medical staff were treating the musician. The band's performance was abandoned but, after a delay, when the headline act Sting took to the stage, he told the crowd to cheers and applause that Mr Duke was in hospital and everyone was praying for him. A statement on The Christians' Facebook page thanked well-wishers for the thousands of messages they had received and said Mr Duke had been taken to Broadgreen Hospital in the city, and thanked the medics present at the On The Waterfront festival. Article continues below A further statement on Monday read: "As you may have heard our appearance at the last night of @otwfliverpool was sadly abandoned due to our drummer Lionel Duke collapsed suffering a cardiac arrest during the early part of our performance and was treated by the amazing OTWF team and medics within the audience onstage following @ plea for help. "Our thanks also to @theofficialsting for his concern and beautiful tribute to Lionel 'how fragile we are'" Fans at the event also wrote on the band's page with best wishes. Article continues below Julie Forshaw said: "We were at the concert and we send our thoughts and love to Lionel, his friends and family and all of the band and crew ... the swift action of the medics and first aiders was amazing, and all of the stage crew quickly ensured that Lionel and the medics who were delivering first aid had the privacy that was needed. "All of the crowd were silent and willing a positive outcome. Your manager was so professional with her speech so soon after the event was very brave. Sting's tribute was amazing and reminds us all that life is indeed very fragile. Take care everyone and we hope Lionel has a good recovery." Mike Landsborough wrote: "Was at the gig in the front seen it all unfold what swift action by his band and first aid responders and the event staff for making it dignified by shielding Lionel with a makeshift curtain whilst they performed the c.p.r I know he is in good hands at Broadgreen as I too suffered a heart attack and was treated successfully at Broadgreen our thoughts are with Lionel his family and his band family."
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sting's heartwrenching tribute to drummer who collapsed live on stage
Sting shared a touching tribute to The Christians drummer Lionel Duke, who suffered a cardiac arrest while on stage in Liverpool over the weekend Sting shared a moving tribute to The Christians' Lionel Duke following his cardiac arrest on stage. The drummer who was supporting the legendary musician in Liverpool left fans concerned after he appeared to collapse before going into arrest at the iconic Pier Head on Sunday. Lead singer of the band, Garry, requested urgent assistance from the medical teams before a privacy screen was set up on stage. It was during this time that medics worked rapidly to perform CPR on Lionel, whose heart had stopped beating. Lionel was subsequently rushed to the hospital via ambulance after the emergency staff managed to resuscitate him. But while many wondered whether the show would continue, Sting, 73, later took to the stage and reassured fans who had packed the waterfront that Lionel was doing ok and was receiving treatment. One fan who was in attendance said: "We were kept updated, and Sting sang 'Fragile' after asking us all to hold Lionel in our thoughts." A second penned: "We were at the Waterfront - Sting was updating us all in the crowd and wished Lionel well and encouraged us all to think for him and sang Fragile as the final song for the evening." While on stage, the Grammy Award-winning musician said: "The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him." As the sad incident unfolded, event organisers kept fans updated throughout with messages being displayed on huge screens. One read: "We appreciate your patience and understanding. Medical staff are with the performer, and we will provide an update as soon as we can." Shortly after, a spokesperson for the band, who is believed to be their manager, shared an update with fans – explaining that Lionel had suffered a cardiac arrest. She said: "We're really hoping he is going to make it. He didn't have a pulse; he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much." The band also encouraged Sting to perform. Earlier today, the band issued a statement on social media on Lionel's condition, explaining they are still awaiting news. They said: "Thank you so much to all the many many messages regarding our drummer Lionel Duke who suffered a cardiac arrest while performing at tonight's amazing concert ahead of Sting. We are awaiting news from the Heart and Chest hospital at Broad Green and thank the phenomenal team of medics present from On The Waterfront Liverpool team who stepped in so swiftly to help our poor Lionel." Fans of the group rushed to offer their support, with one praising the medical team for their swift response. They said: "Was at the gig in the front seen it all unfold what swift action by his band and first aid responders and the event staff for making it dignified by shielding Lionel with a make shift curtain whilst they performed the c.p.r I know he is in good hands at Broadgreen." A second went on to write: "It was terrifying to see poor Lionel slump forward. I was so proud of the respect the Liverpool crowd showed falling silent, no photos and many people turned around. We were kept updated, and Sting sang 'fragile' after asking us all to hold Lionel in our thoughts. Wishing him a speedy recovery. He is in good hands at Broadgreen." Another typed: "It was very worrying when Lionel slumped forwards onto his drums. Seeing the black screens go up. They were working on him on the stage for a while. I'm so pleased he is doing OK. It was frightening to see. Best wishes to Lionel." "It was so awful to witness! Sending love and positive energy for a speedy recovery for Lionel. And sending love to Garry and the rest of the band too who must have been incredibly shaken," added a fourth.
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The Christians issue update after drummer suffered cardiac arrest on stage
The Christians have shared an update after Lionel Duke suffered a cardiac arrest on stage. Drummer Lionel and the band were supporting Sting at Liverpool's Pier Head on Sunday when he suddenly collapsed mid-performance. Lead singer, Gary Christian, requested immediate medical attention, with crews setting up a privacy screen on the stage. Lionel was later rushed to the hospital via ambulance after being checked over by the emergency services. Now, the band have shared an update on social media. In a statement, they said: "Thank you so much to all the many many messages regarding our drummer Lionel Duke who suffered a cardiac arrest while performing at tonight's amazing concert ahead of Sting "We are awaiting news from the Heart and Chest hospital at Broad Green and thank the phenomenal team of medics present from On The Waterfront Liverpool team who stepped in so swiftly to help our poor Lionel." Fans rushed to the comment section, with one praising the medical team for their swift response. They said: "Was at the gig in the front seen it all unfold what swift action by his band and first aid responders and the event staff for making it dignified by shielding Lionel with a make shift curtain whilst they performed the c.p.r I know he is in good hands at Broadgreen." A second added: "It was terrifying to see poor Lionel slump forward. I was so proud of the respect the Liverpool crowd showed falling silent, no photos and many people turned around. We were kept updated, and Sting sang 'fragile' after asking us all to hold Lionel in our thoughts. Wishing him a speedy recovery. He is in good hands at Broadgreen." "We were at the Waterfront - Sting was updating us all in the crowd and wished Lionel well and encouraged us all to think for him and sang Fragile as the final song for the evening - Wishing Lionel a speedy recovery," said another. Meanwhile, a fourth fan typed: "It was heartbreaking to see. Wishing Lionel a speedy recovery and sending lots of love and wishes to Lionel's family and bandmates." As the incident unfolded, event staff displayed a message on the huge screens to update fans. They said: "We appreciate your patience and understanding. Medical staff are with the performer, and we will provide an update as soon as we can." Moments later, a spokesperson who is believed to be The Christians' manager addressed the sold-out crowd. She confirmed that Lionel had suffered a cardiac arrest but was managed to be brought back around. She said: "We're really hoping he is going to make it. He didn't have a pulse, he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much." Despite worries, the band are believed to have encouraged Sting to continue with his performance. When he took to the stage, the Grammy Award-winning musician reflected on the heartbreaking incident. He said: "The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him."
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sting gives update as support act suffers cardiac arrest on stage in Liverpool
Sting's long-anticipated return to Liverpool took on a somber tone as he opened his headline performance at On The Waterfront by addressing a medical emergency that unfolded earlier in the day involving a member of local band The Christians. The Grammy-winning artist took the stage at Pier Head on Sunday night, closing out the four-day festival, but not before updating fans on the dramatic incident that had temporarily paused the event just hours before. During The Christians' afternoon set, a band member collapsed mid-performance, prompting immediate concern and halting the show. Eyewitnesses described how frontman Garry Christian urgently called for medics to rush to the stage. Moments later, a privacy screen was erected to shield the scene from the large crowd, who watched in silence as the situation unfolded. Shortly after, a spokesperson - believed to be the band's manager, Emma Bridget - addressed the audience with a sobering update. She confirmed that the performer had suffered a cardiac arrest but was still alive. 'We're really hoping he is going to make it,' she told the crowd. 'He didn't have a pulse, he's got one now, we think. Thank you so much.' Despite the shock, The Christians reportedly encouraged Sting to proceed with his headline set, offering their full support. When he eventually appeared on stage, Sting made sure to acknowledge what had happened, opening his performance with a few quiet, heartfelt words about the drummer's condition: 'The drummer in the band before is OK. He's in hospital. All of us are praying he's going to be fine. Our thoughts are with him.' It was a rare emotional moment for the legendary artist, whose appearance marked his first performance in Liverpool since 1979. Reflecting on the city's deep musical legacy and its connection to his own roots, the former Police frontman added: "I apologise. I don't know what kept me. I'm happy to be in this historic music city. The most historic music city in the world for obvious reasons.' Originally from Wallsend, North Tyneside, Sting also remarked on how Liverpool reminds him of home before launching into his set. His show brought the 2025 edition of On The Waterfront to a close, following a packed weekend of music at the iconic Mersey-side location. Other headline acts across the festival included The Wombats, The Wolfe Tones, and Cream Classical Ibiza. As of now, no further updates on the condition of The Christians' band member have been made public. .
