Steve Miller Band have abruptly cancelled their whole 2025 tour due to weather.
The rockers, who formed in the 1960s and are known for hits including The Joker, Abracadabra, and Fly Like an Eagle, made the announcement on social media that all 31 dates are cancelled less than a month before their tour was due to kick off on August 13.
The Rockin’ it with the Steve Miller Band Tour, which was due to start in Michigan and journey around the whole of the US before ending in California in November, poses ‘risks’ for the audience, band and crew, the band announced, due to ‘the combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornatoes, hurricaines and massive forest fires’.
Writing on social media, they said: ‘Dear Steve Miller Band fans. You many music with your instincts. You live your life by your instincts. Always trust your instincts.
‘The Steve Miller Band has cancelled all of our upcoming tour dates. The combination of extreme heat, unpredictable flooding, tornatoes, hurricaines and massive forest fires make these risks for you our audience, the band and the crew unacceptable.
‘So…You can blame it on the weather… The tour is cancelled. Don’t know where, don’t know when… We hope to see you all again. Wishing you all Peace, Love and Happiness. Please take care of each other.’
It’s true that extreme weather is becoming a more regular occurance throughout the world, impacting outdoor events: a report by sustainability body Isla published in May found extreme weather distupted over 2,000 global events between 2004 and 2024.
However, fans thought this was a weak excuse to cancel a whole tour.
‘Are you serious? I’m a big fan and got tickets for this tour , but next time please find a bette excuse,’ said @marchenajr.
‘This really doesn’t make sense. There is no imminent danger. Play indoors?’ suggested @DrSommerfeld.
‘This is just ridiculous,’ added @Txotxerita.
‘Really weak. All this stuff going on all the more reason people need an escape for a few hours,’ said @badasschef88.
On July 4 extreme flooding in Texas killed at least 134 people, and on UK soil this week Thames Water announced a hosepipe ban as large parts of the country are officially in a drought.
Music events are being forced to adapt to more extreme weather, including the introduction of dedicated wildfire response teams and enhanced evacuation plans, while flood defences are considered and satellite weather-monitering technology is drafted in.
Alongside these added costs, insurance premiums are rising with more weather-related claims cropping up, meaning putting on events is becoming more expensive.
Heat stroke is also a problem, with UK festivals impacted by soaring temperatures this summer.
Glastonbury Festival was hit with 30C temperatures, with attendees warned to drink water and be aware of medical points throughout the Worthy Farm site, which has little shade.
Meanwhile, The Margate Drum and Bass Festival at Dreamland Margate was cut short last month, with gig-goers told to ‘get home safely’ and the festival explaining ‘it was just too hot’ as a man died.
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