Japanese fans on Friday welcomed news that former Beatle Paul McCartney is expected to make a full recovery from the viral infection that landed him in a Tokyo hospital for treatment.
McCartney, 71, called off his sold-out Japan tour this week after postponing several concerts, much to the disappointment of fans ¡ª some of whom had paid ?100,000 ($980) to see him. He later canceled a concert set for South Korea next week.
¡°The shock was huge when I heard the two concerts which I had bought tickets for were both canceled,¡± said Shinichi Noguchi, 40, who had come to the Tokyo hotel where McCartney was believed to be staying.
¡°It¡¯s good to hear he¡¯s recovering and I¡¯ll be happy if he can come to Japan again in the near future.¡±
McCartney spokeswoman Perri Cohen said in a statement on Thursday that McCartney had been treated successfully at a Tokyo hospital for the viral infection, which he came down with a day after his arrival in Japan last week.
¡°He will make a complete recovery and has been ordered to take a few days rest. Paul has been extremely moved by all the messages and well wishes he has received from fans all over the world,¡± she added.
McCartney, who rarely cancels concerts, said in a statement earlier this week that he hated to disappoint his fans. He came to Japan after a South American tour.
¡°I hope he fully recovers and will give us a concert in the near future,¡± said Fumio Ito, 66. ¡°Fingers crossed.¡±
The dearth of news about McCartney¡¯s condition on Thursday prompted concern among fans around the world, particularly when the only new comment posted on his Twitter account was an old photo of him with a ram.
¡°We want to know about Paul¡¯s health!¡± one fan tweeted.
McCartney and drummer Ringo Starr are the two surviving members of the super-successful Beatles, which broke up in 1970.
A native of Liverpool who largely taught himself how to play, McCartney has been known for a long and versatile musical career that included a stint with the band ¡°Wings¡± after the Beatles, followed by a flourishing solo career.
His song ¡°Yesterday¡± is one of the most covered songs of all time.
In 1980, on arriving in Japan for a tour with ¡°Wings,¡± McCartney was arrested and jailed for some nine days after customs officials found marijuana in his luggage. He was then deported without being charged.
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