Earth, Wind & Fire postponed a San Francisco concert with Lionel Richie just minutes before showtime after an unidentified member of the band experienced a medical emergency.
The August 6th performance at Chase Center had been scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. The venue posted the postponement notice at approximately 7:22 p.m., when many concertgoers were already inside the arena or waiting outside.
Earth, Wind & Fire said a band member’s medical emergency made it impossible for the group to perform but did not identify the person involved or disclose the nature of the health issue.
The show will be rescheduled. Existing tickets will remain valid for the replacement date, while fans unable to attend can seek refunds through their original point of purchase.
The Band Did Not Identify the Member Involved
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Earth, Wind & Fire confirmed the emergency in a statement shared Thursday evening. “We are unable to perform as scheduled tonight at Chase Center in San Francisco due to a medical emergency involving a member of our band,” the group said, according to PEOPLE.
“As a result, tonight’s show with Lionel Richie will be rescheduled, with a new date to be announced soon,” the statement continued. The band apologized for the unexpected change but did not provide a diagnosis, symptoms or an update on the member’s condition.
Chase Center repeated the postponement notice and instructed ticket holders to retain their tickets for the rescheduled performance or request refunds through the original point of purchase.
Fans Learned About the Postponement Eight Minutes Before Showtime
The concert was scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with doors opening an hour earlier. Chase Center posted the postponement announcement at approximately 7:22 p.m., according to SFGATE, leaving only eight minutes before the scheduled start.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that police officers and Chase Center employees directed hundreds of concertgoers out of the arena after the announcement.
The medical response itself had begun earlier. San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Mariano Elias told the Chronicle that emergency personnel were dispatched to Chase Center at approximately 5:30 p.m. One person was transported to a hospital by private ambulance.
TMZ reported, citing a San Francisco Fire Department representative, that responders were called for what was described as a cardiac incident and that one person was transported in critical condition. The available public information does not establish that the hospitalized person was the Earth, Wind & Fire member referenced in the band’s statement.
The Tour Previously Paused After Lionel Richie Became Ill
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The San Francisco postponement comes several weeks after Richie experienced his own health scare during the tour’s opening night in St. Paul, Minnesota. Richie became dizzy during the June 24th concert while performing “Dancing on the Ceiling.”
He attempted to continue, including performing “Three Times a Lady,” before the show was ultimately cut short. Doctors subsequently advised him to rest, leading to the postponement of concerts scheduled for Chicago and Columbus.
Richie returned to the stage with Earth, Wind & Fire in Pittsburgh on June 30th. “I had you worried there for a minute, huh?” he joked to the audience during his comeback, according to PEOPLE.
The 2026 run marks the third time Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire have toured together under the Sing A Song All Night Long banner. The 26-city North American leg began June 24th and is scheduled to conclude August 14th in Austin.