Jones revealed in an Instagram post that he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection

Sir Tom Jones is on the mend.

Hours before taking the stage in Bremen, Germany on Tuesday, July 22, the 85-year-old Welsh singer postponed his show due to health reasons.

“Unfortunately, I must postpone my show this evening, as I’ve contracted an upper respiratory infection that needs treatment and rest,” he wrote in a statement shared to Instagram. “I know this is really disappointing and will cause inconvenience to you all, and I’m very sorry about that.”

“The show will now go ahead on Monday 28th July, so I look forward to seeing you then. All tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled date. Until then, thank you for your understanding. Love, Tom,” he concluded.

The “It’s Not Unusual” singer is on the road for his Ages & Stages tour across the U.K. and Europe — and the Bremen show was set to be his final stop in Germany.

This isn’t the first time Jones postpones shows due to health reasons. In 2022, Jones shared with fans he was diagnosed with viral laryngitis — and denied rumors he collapsed before a scheduled performance.

“I did NOT ‘collapse’ anywhere at any time, that is pure rumor,” he wrote at the time. “Hopefully the inflammation will calm soon as I am looking forward to continuing my wonderful summer tour.”

“Unfortunately the show had to be canceled at the last minute, and for that I am very sorry,” he added. “However, the show in Budapest has been rescheduled and will take place on August 16. Thanks again for all your kind concern.”

Later that year, Jones also revealed he got a second hip replacement. “Papa has two new hips now!” he revealed in a November Instagram post.  “For all those concerned and sent in well wishes, I am pleased to report my recent surgery went very well.”

At the time, he said he was “following orders and doing my physio, so happy to say I will be back soon!”

The “Sex Bomb” singer released his latest album, Surrounded By Time, in 2021 and it was his first release since his wife of 59 years, high school sweetheart Melinda “Linda” Rose Woodward, died of cancer in 2016.

“When we found out she was sick, I canceled the tour I was on and went to visit her in the hospital in Los Angeles. I told her I wasn’t sure if I would be able to sing anymore,” Jones — who lived with Linda in L.A. since 1974 before moving back to the U.K. following her death — told PEOPLE at the time. “But she told me, ‘You’ve got to. There’s no way out for me, I know where I’m going. But don’t die with me.'”

Tom Jones Celebrates Major Milestone as ‘It’s Not Unusual’ Turns 60: ‘What a Ride It’s Been!’

The song, which has amassed generations of fans, was Jones’ first breakthrough hit internationally

“None of this would have been possible without the enduring support from my fans from day one, so thank you, you are sincerely loved and appreciated,” he continued.

Of the clip, he wrote, “It’s great fun to see the style and energy of those times. So here’s to music, the stage and YOU!”

“It’s Not Unusual” was Jones’ second hit overseas and the first to break through in the United States. It served as the theme song for his late 1960s variety show, This Is Tom Jones.

The song also had a resurgence when it became part of a running gag on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airin the mid 1990s. After one scene with Carlton dancing awkwardly to the song eventually became the character’s signature dance, the hit appeared multiple times, with Jones himself making a number of cameos on the show.

Writing for Variety about the Carlton dance in 2015, Alfonso Ribeiro recalled his days on Fresh Prince and explains how the moment came about.

“The Carlton Dance was created when it said in the script: ‘Carlton dances.’ It was never even intended to be funny; it was just that he was dancing,” Ribeiro said. “The dance is ultimately Courteney Cox in the Bruce Springsteen video ‘Dancing in the Dark.’ That’s the basis. Or in Eddie Murphy’s ‘Delirious’ video, ‘The White Man Dance,’ as he called it.”

Sir Tom Jones halts Cardiff gig as he addresses crowd boos

Sir Tom Jones faced boos as he tackled the controversy surrounding one of his most famous songs on Wednesday evening, 21 August. The 85 year old singer headlined Cardiff Castle across two nights from 20 August, performing beloved hits including What’s New Pussycat, I’m Growing Old and Sex Bomb for the audience.

However, tensions escalated when it came to Delilah, which served as an unofficial Welsh rugby anthem for numerous years before being banned by the Welsh Rugby Union in 2023. The prohibition came as a result of the track’s lyrical themes, which describe a man killing the eponymous Delilah upon discovering her infidelity.

One line states: “I crossed the street to her house and she opened the door; she stood there laughing, I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more”, leading officials to conclude three years ago that the song shouldn’t feature at major Welsh sporting occasions anymore as was thought to glorify violence against women, reports the Mirror.

Speaking out about the ban, Tom told the crowds at his gig: “Who’s that man who said we shouldn’t sing that song anymore? That used to make my day that on an international match.”

The Voice UK judge said he used to relish hearing his track performed by thousands ahead of a big game, and insisted that none of the lyrics should be ‘taken literally’. He continued: “I used to wait for it and then they said we can’t sing it anymore. Who is this man who said we can’t sing Delilah? They said it’s about a man killing his wife with a knife. Well it is, but you shouldn’t take it literally.” It was then that crowd booed in support of Tom’s backing of the song, reports WalesOnline.

Delilah was initially released in 1968 and went on to become the sixth-biggest-selling single of that year after reaching number two. It subsequently became one of Tom’s most recognisable numbers.

The track appeared in the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder, and the Welsh legend performed it at Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

However, questions about the violent nature began to rise as far back as 2014, with the song’s official removal from the Principality Stadium taking place nearly a decade later.

Dafydd Iwan, whose ballad ‘Yma O Hyd’ about the survival of the Welsh language and culture has become an anthem among Wales football fans, expressed in 2014 that it was “a song about murder and it does tend to trivialise the idea of murdering a woman. It’s a pity these words now have been elevated to the status of a secondary national anthem.”

Dafydd Iwan, whose ballad ‘Yma O Hyd’ about the survival of the Welsh language and culture has become an anthem among Wales football fans, expressed in 2014 that it was “a song about murder and it does tend to trivialise the idea of murdering a woman. It’s a pity these words now have been elevated to the status of a secondary national anthem.”

Rhondda MP Chris Bryant also shared his concerns in 2016. “It is a simple fact that when there are big international rugby matches on, and sometimes football matches as well, the number of domestic violence incidents rises dramatically,” he said.

“I know that some people will say, ‘Oh, here we go, he’s a terrible spoilsport,’ but the truth is that that song is about the murder of a prostitute.”

A spokesperson for the Principality Stadium stated: “Delilah will not feature on the playlist for choirs for rugby internationals at Principality Stadium. The WRU removed the song from its half-time entertainment and music playlist during international matches in 2015. Guest choirs have also more recently been requested not to feature the song during their pre-match performances and throughout games.

“The WRU condemns domestic violence of any kind. We have previously sought advice from subject matter experts on the issue of censoring the song and we are respectfully aware that it is problematic and upsetting to some supporters because of its subject matter.”

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