Gary Brooker press

Beeld • Cape Town • June 2012

2 June 2012: long-time BtP correspondent Chris McLaren sends this clipping, and translation from Afrikaans into English. He informs us that he very sensibly 'cancelled [his] attendance to the show because of Procol Harum not performing and got a refund.'
 

Procol Harum singer still a long while in Cape hospital 

Gary Brooker, lead singer of the British rock group Procol Harum will remain in hospital for at least another week in the high-intensity care unit of the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town after he was seriously injured when he fell in his hotel room on Tuesday evening.

The 67-year old Brooker and the rest of Procol Harum are with The Moody Blues and 10cc in South Africa for the British Invasion Tour.

Brooker’s injury, however, led to the withdrawal of Procol Harum from the concerts.

This means that concert goers to the Dome in Randburg tonight will not be able to hear how Procol Harum perform their hit, A Whiter Shade of Pale.

According to John Langford, managing head of Big Concerts and promoter of the concert, the injury that Brooker sustained is very serious. He told Beeld that Brooker suffered a cracked skull and brain haemorrhage . His condition is stable, but he is still kept under sedation.

Brooker was alone in his hotel room when he fell.

The rest of the group flies back to England tonight.

Procol Harum would have performed with 10cc as guest artists for The Moody Blues, but concert goers that specifically wanted to go to the concert to hear Procol Harum, may ask for a refund at Computicket.

According to Langford it is the first time since 1974 that Procol Harum had to cancel a concert.

Procol Harum was formed in 1967 and contributed a great deal to the development of progressive and symphonic rock.

Their single cut of 1967, A Whiter Shade of Pale, remains their most well-known hit. In 2004, Phonographic Performance Ltd commended the song as the most broadcast during the past seventy years in Britain.

[Photo caption: Gary Brooker of the British group Procol Harum. He is recovering in Cape Town after a serious head injury]

Gary Brooker MBE | Procol management's statement