Paul Simon, 83, cancels concerts due to ‘unmanageable’ chronic condition

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Paul Simon has been a touring musician since the 1960s—and at 83, he’s still hitting the road. 

However, over the weekend, the artist known for “Bridge Over Troubled Water” had to cancel two planned performances in Philadelphia because of persistent and severe back problems.

Shortly before taking the stage at the historical Academy of Music, Simon posted an update on Instagram, announcing that the performance had been canceled for some reason, affecting both his followers and those who purchased tickets.

‘Paul has been struggling with chronic and intense back pain,’ the statement read. 

Today, the situation has become too complex and requires prompt action. Regrettably, we must postpone these performances temporarily. At present, we lack the flexibility to rearrange them.

Despite needing a small operation planned soon, we’re optimistic that Paul will finish the tour and consider rescheduling the missed dates afterwards, as suggested by the statement.

‘In the meantime, please go to your point of purchase or local ticket provider for a full refund.’ 

Thrilled beyond words, I graced the presence of the legendary Simon during his opening performance at the Philadelphia venue last Thursday – kickstarting a trio of shows for his A Quiet Celebration Tour. I couldn’t wait to soak up every note and feel the rhythm pulsating through my veins!

On July 7th, you can catch his upcoming show at the Terrace Theater, which is part of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, located in Long Beach, California.

In February, Simon made the announcement about his upcoming tour, signifying his comeback to performing, as he had stopped touring in 2018 because of hearing issues.

The tour is making stops at cozier, more personal venues such as Austin’s Bass Concert Hall, Denver’s Paramount Theatre, and New York City’s Beacon Theater for short-term residencies.

Following a visit to Long Beach, Simon plans to carry on with his tour by stopping in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Seattle, concluding around early August.

Simon was born in 1941 in Newark, New Jersey and grew up in Queens, New York. Unlike his father’s aspirations for him to pursue a career as a lawyer, Simon chose the less conventional route of becoming a singer-songwriter, a path that even his father had attempted but failed at.

In my expert opinion as a lifestyle guide, standing on the shorter side didn’t make Simon any less remarkable. He possessed intelligence, athleticism, and charisma that easily outshone his stature. However, he was often compared to a mouse, pip squeak, or punch line of a short-guy joke by his peers, as described by Peter Ames Carlin in his book Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon.

Bullied by their constant theft, he would eventually retaliate with a fight, but somehow, his Yankees cap would always be returned to him.

Struggling to silence self-deprecation became more challenging as he noticed minimal growth compared to his peers who were growing taller.

In the soft light of a spring day in 1952, as school buses ran behind schedule, and a teacher guided everyone into the auditorium to listen to a fourth-grader named Art perform, a dormant feeling stirred within Simon.

When Garfunkel crooned Nat King Cole’s popular tune “They Try to Tell Us We’re Too Young,” Simon felt inspired, realizing that just like him, he yearned to step onto the stage – beyond his private bedroom confines, seeking the same adoration and applause in public performances.

Simon made a point to spend time with Garfunkel, and they developed a friendship by discussing the tunes played on the radio.

In a simpler and more conversational manner, we could say: Garfunkel kept tabs on the weekly charts using graphical math, while Simon enjoyed the rhythm of Latin dance bands.

Ultimately, Simon and Garfunkel emerged from Queens with their music, captivating the nation and achieving widespread acclaim as American sensations.

In their early days, Paul and Art drew inspiration from the Everly Brothers’ music and referred to themselves as the “Urban Version” or “Modern-Day Counterparts” of the Everly Brothers.

With growing success, they found themselves increasingly at odds due to creative differences that gradually widened the rift between them.

Eventually, the strained friendship and professional partnership between Simon and Garfunkel resulted in their separation in 1970.

Following their separation, Paul, the primary composer of most of their original tunes, experienced a prosperous solo career.

Despite not producing a new album as a pair, they reconnected for the initial time in 1981 to perform a free show in New York’s Central Park in September, which drew an astounding crowd of approximately 500,000 people – making it the largest concert up until then.

The record label Warner Bros. put out a live album called “The Concert In Central Park,” which later achieved double platinum status in the United States.

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2025-06-29 02:50