Snow Patrol pull out of Glastonbury as bandmember Johnny McDaid prepares to undergo neck surgery

Snow Patrol have pulled out of Glastonbury Festival 2019 as bandmember Johnny McDaid prepares to undergo neck surgery.

The Chasing Cars hitmakers, who were scheduled to take to The Other Stage at the music extravaganza on Friday, have been forced to cancel their performance as pianist Johnny, 42, requires immediate surgery on his neck.

Lead singer Gary Lightbody announced the unfortunate news on the group’s official Facebook account on Tuesday, stating: ‘We are sorry to have to announce the cancellation of more shows.’

Cancel: Snow Patrol have pulled out of Glastonbury Festival 2019 as bandmember Johnny McDaid (far left) prepares to undergo neck surgery (pictured with Jonny Quinn, Gary Lightbody, Paul Wilson, Nathan Connolly last month)

Frontman Gary, 43, continued: ‘Our dear brother, piano and guitar player Johnny McDaid has a serious problem with his neck and after consulting with some top neurosurgeons they are all in agreement that the only course of action is immediate surgery.

‘We are all of course worried about our brother Johnny. He is a force of nature and a giant light in our lives on stage and off and we of course will give him all the time and support he needs to recover. 

‘Johnny has been incredible in the wake of this news and has remained calm at a time when a lot of people might freak out.’

The Just Say Yes musicians had no choice but to cancel their slot as they wouldn’t be able to find a replacement in time as their guitarist and backing vocalist Nathan Connolly remains on a break from performing after suffering from nerve damage.

Unfortunate: The Chasing Cars hitmakers were schedule to take to The Other Stage at the music extravaganza on Friday (pianist Johnny, 42, pictured in April 2015)

In the lengthy statement, Gary added: ‘As for the upcoming shows: to replace Johnny it would take at least two people and with Nathan still out with nerve damage (he is slowly on the mend).

‘He is also still unable to play guitar we feel it’s just not appropriate to continue with shows at this stage. It isn’t just their guitars and pianos that would be missed.

‘Their backing vocals are essential to our sound and their energy and spirits are colossal and are irreplaceable forces.

‘We are sure you all understand that at this point the most important thing is to take time to let our brothers heal and recover.

‘So we need to cancel the forthcoming shows we are billed to play in Europe this summer up to Latitude on the 20th of July to give them both time to recover’, he ended his post. 

The Charlatans will replace Snow Patrol members Johnny, Gary, Nathan, 38, Paul Wilson, 40, Jonny Quinn, 47, at the festival on Friday.