Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis was hospitalized late Saturday, prompting the California rock band to cancel their anticipated Weenie Roast gig.
The 53-year-old rocker and former drug addict was taken away in an ambulance due to “extreme stomach pains” shortly before the band headlined KROQ’s annual festival, Billboard reported.
Bassist Flea cited a “medical thing” when addressing a packed crowd at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre in Irvine, Calif., alongside the remaining Peppers. Weezer filled the headline slot instead.
“We are devastated about it,” said Flea, the stage name for Michael Balzary.
“We live to rock, we live to f---ing kick deep into the depths of our hearts and rock, but unfortunately there’s a medical thing that happened and we need to deal with it.”
-ALLCOUNTRYBassist "Flea" addresses fans at the annual Weenie Roast after Anthony Kiedis was hospitalized shortly before their scheduled performance. (PRESS LINE PHOTOS/SPLASH NEWS )
As concern for Kiedis’ health grew on social media, Nancy Mack, the wife of Peppers drummer Chad Smith, responded to fans on Twitter.
“Even super healthy guys get sick,” Mack wrote.
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Chad Smith ✔ @RHCPchad
NO one's more disappointed than us that we couldn't perform tonight. Sending love and a speedy recovery to my brother Anthony.
11:39 AM - 15 May 2016
485 485 Retweets 1,033 1,033 likes
Photographer David Mushegain, who published a tribute to Red Hot Chili Peppers fans with Kiedis in 2014, also came to his friend’s defense and said “everything is going to be ok” in an Instagram post.
Kiedis had a brush with near-death health in 2008 after he nearly suffered organ failure while battling kidney disease. The frontman for the 33-year-old band struggled with drug addiction during the group’s early years.
