Pearl Jam had to cancel a gig or two earlier this year when their rhythm section tested positive for COVID. (When it was just drummer Matt Cameron, they made do.) Now a different public health crisis has taken out a different member of the band. On Instagram, Pearl Jam announced that tonight’s show in Vienna has been cancelled because singer Eddie Vedder’s vocal cords were damaged by dust and smoke from the wildfires in France, part of a larger heat apocalypse that’s currently sweeping across the UK and Europe.

The band’s message reads as follows:

To all those who were anticipating a great Pearl Jam show tonight in Vienna, we were too. However, due to the extreme circumstances at the last outdoor site outside of Paris (heat, dust, and smoke from the fires) our singer Ed Vedder’s throat was left damaged. He has seen doctors and had treatment but as of yet, his vocal cords have not recovered.

This is brutal news and horrible timing…for everyone involved.

Those who work so hard to put on the shows as well as those who give their precious time and energies to attend….

As a band, we are deeply sorry and have tried to find options to still play. And Ed wants to play. There’s just no throat available at this time…

So very, very deeply sorry.

Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.

Thank you for understanding.

Pearl Jam

Beside the point, but after three decades, “Ed Vedder” doesn’t sound right at all.

UPDATE 7/21: The band has cancelled tonight’s show in Prague as well. They write:

We were hopeful that Ed would make a recovery in time to perform tomorrow. He has seen a doctor in Prague and is continuing the treatments for his vocal cords, but unfortunately, there is still no voice available.

The effects on his throat from the last outdoor show are still just too brutal.

We again send our sincere apologies to all of those who have worked intensely to put on the show. Even bigger apologies to those that were expecting to attend.

We’ve always had memorable shows here and are with you in our extreme disappointment.

You can be guaranteed we are doing everything we can to help fix the situation. Again, so sorry.

Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.

Thank you immensely for your understanding.

Pearl Jam

UPDATE 7/24: Pearl Jam have also canceled their show that was set to take place in Amsterdam on Sunday night. “In spite of continuous medical treatment, Ed is regretfully still without a voice and unable to perform tonight’s show at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam,” their statement reads. “This is again the worst possible scenario for the band.”

https://twitter.com/PearlJam/status/1551218440785973248