Eloy pulls out of NEARfest for medical reasons

Originally posted by Finnforest

"NEARFEST PRESS RELEASE 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
May 
24, 2012 

Eloy has medical exigency, must pull out of NEARfest 
Apocalypse lineup 

We regret to inform the progressive rock community 
that the legendary German symphonic prog band Eloy must cancel its planned 
NEARfest Apocalypse headline appearance due to a serious medical exigency. Back 
in March, lead guitarist/singer Frank Bornemann was struck by a delivery van 
while riding his bicycle. Frank's injuries required surgery, hospitalization, 
and extensive rehabilitation. Nevertheless Frank was hopeful he could recover in 
time to perform with Eloy at NEARfest in June. Unfortunately some recent 
setbacks in his recovery have made this impossible, with doctors verifying that 
any traveling or gigging could lead to the damage becoming permanent. All the 
members of Eloy were dearly looking forward to coming to play in the USA for the 
first time. Airline tickets, work visas, and the necessary backline had already 
been procured. They, and we, are extremely disappointed that they now cannot 
perform at NEARfest. But Frank's long-term health is the paramount consideration 
here for all of us involved; no concert is worth permanent physical damage. Eloy 
is hopeful that their already-rescheduled German concert dates can proceed in 
Autumn 2012, of course depending on the pace of Frank's continued recovery. 
Frank asks for your warm thoughts and healing energy as he continues in his 
difficult rehabilitation. 

Even though we are deeply disappointed, the 
final NEARfest show must go on and we are unbowed in our aim to bring the 
festival history to a close in a blaze of glorious progressive music. We are 
presently in advanced negotiations with a first-class, world-renowned, 
legendary, headliner-status progressive rock band to fill the Sunday night slot 
at the NEARfest Apocalypse. We hope to have all the necessary details squared 
away within the next couple of days, and begin publicity once the ink is dry on 
the performance contract."