Paul Simon Recuperating from Successful Surgery, Announces Minor Adjustment to Upcoming Tour Schedule

July 4, 2025, 1:04pm

Paul Simon recently was forced to cancel two concerts in Philadelphia that were part of his current “A Quiet Celebration” tour because he was experiencing “chronic and intense back pain.” An announcement posted on Simon’s social media pages on June 28 explained that he needed to undergo a minor surgical procedure to address the issue and was canceling his shows on that day and June 29 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia.

The message also noted that after the procedure, the 83-year-old singer/songwriter hoped to finish the remaining dates of his tour. Now, Simon has posted an update on his socials about the health status, and a slight change in his tour schedule.

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“As previously reported, Paul Simon underwent a surgical procedure this week to alleviate severe back pain that he has been experiencing for some time,” the message begins. “Thanks to a great team of doctors, the surgery went well, as expected.”

The note then explains that Simon’s next scheduled concert, on July 7 at The Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California, will be pushed back one day because he “will need one additional day of rest and recuperation to insure he is able to perform at the top of his ability.”

The message continues. “[O]ut of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to move the previously scheduled show … in Long Beach, to Tuesday, July 8.

The note concludes, “We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but Paul is looking forward to seeing everyone in Long Beach on Tuesday. All tickets purchased will be honored for the rescheduled date. For those unable to revise their plans, refunds are available at point of purchase.”

More About Simon’s Current Tour

Simon’s last show before the cancellations took place on June 26 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. After the concert in Long Beach, he has multiple performances scheduled in Los Angeles (July 9, 11, 12, 14, 16); San Franciso (July 19, 21, 22); Vancouver, Canada (July 26,27,28); and Seattle (July 31, August 2, August 3). You can check out more details about the trek at PaulSimon.com.

Simon’s “A Quiet Celebration” tour began with an April 4-5 stand in New Orleans. The outing marks the folk-rock legend’s return to touring for the first time since 2018, when he wrapped up a supposed farewell trek.

The new tour showcases a full performance of Simon’s latest album, Seven Psalms (2023), and also features renditions several Simon & Garfunkel classics, as well as hits and deep cuts from his solo career. Paul is joined by a large backing band that includes multiple guitarists and percussionists, a keyboardist, a cellist, a flute player, a violinist, and a saxophonist. Simon’s wife, singer Edie Brickell, has been joining him on several tunes at each show.

The “A Quiet Celebration” tour also marks Simon’s return to regular performing since he began experiencing severe hearing loss in his left ear while recording Seven Psalms a few years ago.

Paul’s hearing issues initially made it difficult for him to perform live. He eventually worked with the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss in California and his own production team to design a stage setup with monitors positioned in a way that allows him play concerts again comfortably.