Simian Mobile Disco cancel tour amid rare illness

Electronic dance stars Simian Mobile Disco have pulled their upcoming tour of the U.S. as bandmate Jas Shaw battles a rare medical condition.
The British duo, which has previously collaborated with Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor and Beth Ditto from Gossip, were set to perform a series of gigs in June (18), but the shows have been axed to allow the musician time to undergo treatment for AL amyloidosis, a disease which affects organ and tissue functions.
In a statement posted online, Jas’ production partner James Ford writes: “He is receiving treatment but unfortunately this means he is not able to tour, and we have reluctantly decided that SMD’s live performances will have to be put on hold for at least a few months.
“We are hopeful that following treatment, he will be able to return to a full work schedule but we’re not currently in a position to confirm when this will be.”
Simian Mobile Disco will perform one more gig at London’s Barbican on 4 April (18) before going on hiatus, and all profits from the show are set to be donated to the UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund to help fight the disease, which is typically treated with chemotherapy or steroid use. There is currently no cure for the illness.
It’s not clear if the diagnosis will affect plans for the band’s upcoming album release – Murmurations, the follow-up to 2016’s Welcome to Sideways, is scheduled to launch in May (18).