Dennis DeYoung of Styx is replacing singer Pat Benatar as headliner at the Edmonton Rock Music Festival on Saturday.
Dennis DeYoung of Styx is replacing singer Pat Benatar as headliner at the Edmonton Rock Music Festival on Saturday.
Festival organizers immediately issued calls to find a replacement after Benatar’s camp released a statement saying Neil “Spyder” Giraldo, the singer’s husband/guitarist required emergency eye surgery on the weekend.
“He has degenerative eye disease and after the emergency surgery, his doctor said he cannot travel for six to 10 weeks,” said festival executive director Kennedy Jenson.
On his website, Giraldo wrote, “I have been experiencing headaches for the past month, performing through the pain thinking it was nothing and would just go away. It didn’t … instead it turned out to be a serious eye emergency and required immediate surgery to repair it. The prognosis is good and I look forward to seeing y’all. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
A world touring recording artist with four decades of multi-platinum albums, DeYoung will perform Styx’s greatest hits – Grand Illusion, Blue Collar Man, Come Sail Away, Miss America and more.
Saturday night refunds are available to ticket buyers. Email requests must be sent to [email protected] no later than Friday, Aug. 14 at 4 p.m.
