THE ROLLING STONES have postponed their tour of Australia and New Zealand indefinitely, with frontman Mick Jagger plunged into grief over the apparent suicide of girlfriend L’Wren Scott.
Jagger, who was reportedly heading back to New York, said he was “struggling to understand” Scott’s death as it emerged her fashion design business was grappling with multi-million-dollar debts.
“The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry and disappointed to announce the postponement of the rest of their 14 ‘On Fire’ tour of Australia and New Zealand,” they wrote on their website.
“Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood wish to thank all of their fans for their support at this difficult time and hope that they will fully understand the reason for this announcement,” the statement added.
The band said they would reschedule concerts in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland at a later date, asking ticket holders to hold on to their tickets until further notice.
Jagger initially cancelled just the opening leg of the Australian tour, which was to have begun in Perth tomorrow.
In a blog post on his website, a day after 49-year-old Scott was found dead at her luxury New York apartment, he described the former model as not only his lover but his best friend.
“I will never forget her,” Jagger, 70, wrote under a post entitled “L’Wren”, featuring a black and white photo of Scott.
“I am still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way,” Jagger wrote.
We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves. She had great presence and her talent was much admired, not least by me.I have been touched by the tributes that people have paid to her, and also the personal messages of support that I have received. I will never forget her.
Scott and Jagger, who was 21 years older, had been dating for well over a decade.
Break-up rumours ‘absurd’
A spokesman for Jagger meanwhile angrily dismissed reports in the New York Post tabloid citing an unidentified source which said the rocker had recently broken up with Scott.
“This is a complete and utter fabrication and a result of ill-informed gossip at this tragic time for Mick. It is absurd and not true,” Jagger spokesman Bernard Doherty said.
New York coroners were to perform an autopsy on Scott’s body today to pinpoint the precise of cause of death.
“We may have the results immediately today or maybe we need further tests,” a spokesperson for New York’s chief medical examiner’s office said.
The designer was found at her Chelsea apartment in Manhattan on Monday, according to police. Police sources indicated that they had not found a note or letter near her body.
It emerged that Scott’s business had large debts at the time of her apparent suicide, according to latest accounts filed in Britain.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say