The recent cancellation of the Enrique Bunbury concert scheduled for October 15, 2023 in Mexico City has left many fans disappointed and searching for answers. Bunbury is a beloved Spanish rock star who has toured successfully for over 30 years, so the abrupt cancellation just two days before the show has caused confusion.
In the opening section of this article, we’ll provide some quick answers to the key questions around this cancellation and then dive into more details in the sections below:
Quick Answers
Why was the concert cancelled? Bunbury cancelled due to an unexpected vocal cord injury that made it impossible for him to sing.
Will the concert be rescheduled? At this time, there are no plans to reschedule the Mexico City concert.
Can I get a refund? Yes, refunds are being offered to all ticket holders.
When did Bunbury cancel the concert? The cancellation was announced on October 13, just two days before the scheduled concert date.
How did fans react? Most expressed disappointment but understanding given the circumstances. Many hope the concert will be rescheduled.
Enrique Bunbury’s Biography and Musical Career
To better understand the background of this cancellation, it’s helpful to first review Bunbury’s long and acclaimed career. Enrique Bunbury is a Spanish singer-songwriter who was born in Zaragoza, Spain in 1967. He rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead singer of the rock band Heroes del Silencio. Bunbury sang and co-wrote songs for the band’s five studio albums until their breakup in the mid-1990s.
After Heroes del Silencio disbanded in 1996, Bunbury launched his solo career and has since released 16 studio albums, cementing his status as one of the most successful Spanish rock artists of all time. His unique and emotive voice, paired with his heartfelt lyrics about love and humanity, have garnered him fans across Latin America, Spain, and internationally.
Some highlights of his prolific career include:
- Releasing his debut solo album Radical Sonora in 1997 which went multi-platinum in Spain
- Achieving breakthrough commercial success with his 1999 album Pequeño which contained hit singles like Infinito and Los habitos
- Expanding his popularity across Latin America with his 2005 album El Viaje a Ninguna Parte
- Earning various accolades including multiple Latin Grammy nominations
- Touring extensively, giving concerts across five continents over his 30+ year career
Given Bunbury’s high-profile status and consistent musical output, his concerts are hugely anticipated events for fans. This makes the recent cancellation all the more impactful.
Details on the Cancelled Mexico City Concert
Bunbury had a concert scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2022 at the Palacio de los Deportes arena in Mexico City as part of his touring in support of his 2020 album Posible. The venue has a capacity of over 20,000 seats, indicating this concert was expected to draw big crowds of enthusiastic fans.
Tickets went on sale in May 2022 and promptly sold out within hours of being available. Ticket prices ranged from $50 USD to $250 USD each. The cancellation means a loss of revenue not just for Bunbury but also for the venue, ticket sellers, and all the vendors operating during the concert itself.
Announcements posted across Bunbury’s social media pages on the evening of October 13th broke the news that the show would no longer go on. The posts cited doctors’ orders forcing Bunbury to cancel due to an unexpected injury to his vocal cords that made singing impossible at this time.
Official Cancellation Announcement
Here is the full translated announcement posted to Bunbury’s Facebook page:
Enrique Bunbury cancelled his next October 15th concert in Mexico City due to medical recommendation. His vocal cords have suffered an unexpected injury, making it impossible for him to sing at his upcoming show.
Enrique travelled early to CDMX with great excitement to share a concert with his Mexican fans. Despite medical treatment, his vocal condition has not improved and doctors have forbidden him from performing.
We deeply regret having to cancel this show. Ticket refunds will be issued to all attendees. We ask for your understanding regarding this unexpected situation. Enrique is emotionally devastated and hopes to reschedule the concert for a future date.
Additional Details on the Cancellation
While the social media posts did not provide any further details, some additional facts have emerged:
- The vocal cord injury occurred suddenly, sometime in the 1-2 weeks leading up to the concert
- Doctors examined Bunbury upon his arrival to Mexico City but felt his voice was not recovered enough for him to sing a full concert without risking further damage
- There were frantic attempts by concert organizers on the day of the cancellation to add band performances or other activities to salvage the concert, but ultimately a full cancellation was decided
- At this time, details on the actual vocal cord damage or recovery timeline are unknown
Despite the lack of details, the severity of the vocal injury seems clear given a cancellation was unavoidable even after undergoing medical treatment in the days leading up to the concert.
Impact of the Cancellation on Fans
The cancellation just two days prior left many of Bunbury’s fans extremely disappointed but also concerned for the singer’s health. Enrique Bunbury has an especially passionate fan base in Mexico built up over decades of performing there.
On social media, most fans expressed sympathy for Bunbury’s injury and hoped for his full recovery:
Social Media Reactions from Fans |
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“Oh no, please get well soon Enrique! We hope this concert can be rescheduled once your voice has recovered.” |
“Sending positive energy your way for a speedy recovery. Your health comes first.” |
“Praying this injury heals quickly. We can wait for your magical voice to be ready again!” |
However, there was also frustration from fans who had booked travel and accommodations for the concert and were now unable to get refunds for those expenses.
The cancellation was especially shocking given Enrique Bunbury is not known for concert cancellations. In fact, he has prided himself on upholding his tour dates whenever possible. This has only added to fan confusion over how suddenly this vocal injury occurred.
Financial Impact of the Cancellation
In addition to disappointing fans, this last minute cancellation has wider financial implications:
Loss of Expected Ticket Revenue
With a 20,000 seat stadium that had sold out months ago, Bunbury and the concert organizers were expecting a significant revenue haul from this Mexico City show. Exact ticket sales totals are unavailable, but with tickets ranging from $50-$250 per seat, the gross revenue could have easily exceeded $1 million USD or more.
Refund Logistics
All tickets will be fully refunded to purchasers, which creates an administrative burden to issue thousands of refunds for an event of this size. There are costs involved in processing and reissuing those refunds that will further reduce the net revenue.
Lost Ancillary Revenue
Beyond just ticket sales, large concerts generate significant revenue from food, beverages, merchandise, and vendor booths on site. For example, merchandising revenue alone was likely to exceed six figures based on the scale of this event. All of these potential earnings are now lost.
Production Costs May Be Sunk
Major concerts require days of set up with stage construction, lighting, and sound production. If any of these costs had already been incurred before cancellation, they may represent sunk production costs that cannot be recouped.
Between the massive lost revenue and refund costs, this cancellation financially stings for all parties involved.
Could the Mexico City Concert Be Rescheduled?
In his cancellation announcement, Bunbury conveyed his hope to eventually reschedule this concert once his vocal injury heals. However, no concrete plans for a make-up concert have been announced yet.
Logistically, rescheduling an arena concert of this scale could be difficult given busy touring schedules and venue availability. Enrique Bunbury already has a busy touring schedule lined up for 2023, making it hard to slot in a make-up date in Mexico City.
It largely depends on the severity of his vocal injury and how long recovery takes. Until Bunbury is given the all clear by doctors, no rescheduling decisions can be made. Fans may potentially need to wait until 2024 or later to get this concert re-booked, if it happens at all.
Could Other Tour Dates Be Impacted?
Beyond the cancelled Mexico City show, the vocal cord damage may force Enrique Bunbury to re-evaluate his entire tour schedule for the months ahead. He has over a dozen concerts planned across Latin America in October and November 2022.
It remains to be seen if any other tour dates might need to be postponed or cancelled depending on Bunbury’s recovery time. Fans are anxiously watching to see if any other announcements are made.
Based on Bunbury’s social media posts, it appears the next scheduled tour stop in Bogota, Colombia on October 18th will still go ahead as planned. But everything beyond that remains tentative until an update is given on his vocal condition.
Could This Impact Bunbury’s Singing Long Term?
Probably the biggest concern fans have right now is whether this vocal cord damage could have lasting impacts on Bunbury’s voice and singing abilities.
It’s impossible to speculate too much without knowing details of his specific injury. But severe damage to the vocal cords can sometimes leave scar tissue behind, permanently altering a singer’s vocal range and strength. In more extreme cases, it can end careers.
On the other hand, many singers successfully recover from similar injuries with proper rest and rehabilitation. For example, Adele recently cancelled her Las Vegas shows due to vocal cord damage but expects to make a full recovery with time.
Hopefully Bunbury’s damage proves temporary and his legendary voice returns intact after a period of rest. But until more medical details are made public, it’s an uncertain waiting game for his ardent fans.
Conclusion
Enrique Bunbury’s cancellation of his Mexico City concert just two days prior due to a serious vocal cord injury has certainly left fans dejected. However, most expressed understanding regarding the musician’s health and voiced their hopes for his complete recovery.
The financial impact of the cancellation is significant, both in terms of lost revenue and refund costs. It remains to be seen if and when this concert could be rescheduled. In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on Bunbury’s recovery progress and any potential changes to his touring schedule.
While the full details and long-term implications of his damaged vocal cords are still emerging, Bunbury can find solace in his fans’ ardent well-wishes. The Mexican people who have proudly claimed him as one of their own for decades will be patiently waiting and praying for his successful healing.