Pop-punk band All Time Low ends Singapore concert early; lead singer sent to hospital after show

SINGAPORE: American pop-punk band All Time Low ended their concert at Fort Canning Park early on Sunday (May 5) after their lead singer fell ill with food poisoning, leaving fans in the lurch less than an hour into the show. 

The band's lead singer, Alex Gaskarth, was "sent to the hospital after the show and was released early this morning", the concert's promoter LAMC Productions said in an Instagram post on Monday.

Concertgoers will not receive refunds.

Gaskarth provided an update on his condition in an Instagram story posted at about 5pm on Monday.

"I was fighting through a pretty bad illness and unfortunately it got the better of me mid-show," he wrote in the story, which included a picture of his hospital bed.

"I've been fortunate to get quick medical treatment and hopefully have the worst of it behind me now," he added.

All Time Low was slated to perform at 8pm after local opening act Iman's League, and they took the stage at about 8.15pm. They performed about four songs before Gaskarth rushed off stage.

The four-member band's lead guitarist Jack Barakat explained that Gaskarth was feeling unwell due to a bout of food poisoning but was doing his best to perform. 

Without their lead singer, the band's other members decided to perform a cover of a Blink-182 song while waiting for Gaskarth to return. 

Upon his return, Gaskarth apologised and said it was a musician's worst nightmare to have a great audience but to have his body failing.

Barakat then joked that he knew about five Blink-182 songs if the singer needed to rush off the stage again. 

After performing two more songs, Gaskarth left the stage once more without saying anything to the crowd. The band performed another cover before deciding to perform one of their own songs without him. 

The remaining members then said they would take a quick break to check on Gaskarth as he had been gone for some time.

Barakat subsequently returned to the stage and announced that they would have to end the concert as Gaskarth could not stand.

The show ended at about 9pm, less than 50 minutes after it started.

After the last song, members of the band handed out guitar picks and drumsticks to the crowd before leaving the stage without a final bow.

In his Instagram story on Monday, Gaskarth also reflected on what unfolded at the concert, saying he "gave it absolutely everything" he had.

"As a performer, it's genuinely heartbreaking when your body gives out in a way that affects a gig like that," he said.

"I was on the verge of tears backstage hearing you all sing along so loud. All we can ever do is our best and I'm grateful I got to share those moments with you all," he added.

NO REFUNDS

All Time Low performed about 10 songs in total, two of them Blink-182 covers. This was less than half of the number of songs they performed at earlier shows on their current tour in Indonesia and the Philippines.

However, LAMC said that the band had performed "to the best of their ability under the circumstances". 

"The band did their best even though their lead singer Alex Gaskarth became increasingly unwell during the show," they said in their Instagram post on the concert.

"We apologise for the delay in clarifying the situation as it was a shock to us as well," they added.

"We were not made aware of the severity of his condition and it was beyond our control."

Fans of All Time Low had taken to LAMC's Instagram page to ask for refunds, however, the promoter said that there would be none.

Instead, they offered each ticket-holder "a S$30 (US$22.20) unique promo code redeemable on any LAMC show over the next year". 

This was met with complaints from attendees, with some saying that this was not sufficient. 

"We paid for a full concert experience with the expectation of some standard of crisis management," commented a fan on LAMC's post.

As of 6.45pm on Monday, comments could no longer be left on the post while comments left earlier were no longer visible. As of 8.45pm, comments could again be left while comments from earlier reappeared.

"CAN'T BE HELPED"

Fans CNA spoke to after the concert on Sunday expressed their disappointment at what had happened.

One fan, 27-year-old Scott, had travelled to Singapore from the United States to watch the show.

"We're kind of sad, we came all the way from San Diego," he said.

"We love the band and … had a great time while they were playing, but it's unfortunate," he added.

Scott, who was on his first trip to Singapore, said that he and a friend paid at least US$10,000 for the whole trip.

"I don't know what to feel right now, I'm still processing that it's ended," said 23-year-old Nikki Affikah, who said she paid about S$300 for the whole experience. 

She added that it was hard to tell that Gaskarth was sick until it was announced. "He was such a pro," she said. 

Another attendee told CNA that she was "very torn" about the incident.

"We do feel for the band but we also feel ... it's very wasted, especially since it's been seven years since they last came," she said.

"Everyone was very excited and it's not like the tickets were cheap ...The fact that it hasn't even been an hour, it kind of sucks."

Despite their disappointment, fans also wished Gaskarth well and said that the situation was not the band's fault.

"The fact that Alex performed so many songs with food poisoning is really remarkable," said a 29-year-old concertgoer, who has been a fan of the band for more than 10 years.

She added that it was "devastating" since it was her first time seeing All Time Low live, but wished that Gaskarth would get well soon for the rest of the tour. 

"We are sad but it can't be helped. If you're sick, you're sick," said another fan, 24-year-old Mercury J Alice.

"He's done more than enough for the band and I wish him a speedy recovery."