Johnny Marr Cancels U.S. Tour Due to Family Illness

Johnny Marr has canceled the remaining scheduled U.S. tour dates of his 2014 tour. A statement on the former Smiths guitarist’s website cites a serious, close family illness.

“I’m really disappointed to not be able to play the shows,” Marr wrote in a statement. “The touring has been so enjoyable for me and the band, and the audiences have been great everywhere. If it was about just me being unwell I would’ve found a way to continue as I did when I broke my hand earlier in the year, but to not be there for one of my family is not right. Thank you to everyone for the kind messages. See you soon.”

The affected dates include ones scheduled in Washington, Oregon and California, through the 20th. Ticket refunds are available at the point of purchase. The singer-songwriter said he hopes to reschedule the dates.

Earlier this year, Marr put out his second solo album, Playland. He told Rolling Stone that the record picks up right where his solo debut, The Messenger, left off. “I just wanted to take the energy of the band I was touring with and put it into the new songs,” said. “I kept on writing as soon as The Messenger came out. I wrote a few songs on the road and kicked them around in soundcheck. I didn’t want to change up what I was doing; I just wanted it to be more of it.”

Marr began his tour supporting Playland in the U.K., where at one gig he teamed with another guitarist-turned-bandleader, former Oasis member Noel Gallagher. During a set at London’s O2 Brixton, the pair played Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” and the Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?”

Marr recently recorded a guitar part on the song “Ballad of the Mighty I,” which will appear on Gallagher’s upcoming High Flying Birds LP, Chasing Yesterday. The LP is due out in March.