Sticky Fingers bassist Paddy Cornwall was taken to hospital with breathing difficulties during the band’s Santiago show, forcing an improvised finish.
Sticky Fingers’ concert in Chile took an unexpected turn when bassist Paddy Cornwall fell ill and was taken to hospital before the band had finished its set.
The Australian group were performing at Santiago’s Teatro Caupolicán on Wednesday, 19 August, on the final date of their South American tour. Cornwall made it through the opening stretch of the show, but audience reports suggest he began feeling unwell around “Bootleg Rascal”.
The first public sign that something was wrong came during the acoustic section. Singer Claude Bailey and guitarist Seamus Coyle initially performed “Cyclone”, before telling the crowd they would improvise and continuing with stripped-back versions of “Love Song” and “Not Done Yet” while the situation unfolded backstage.
Keyboardist Freddy Crabs then returned to the stage and confirmed that Cornwall had been taken to hospital. He told the audience the bassist had experienced difficulty breathing, while repeatedly reassuring fans that he was okay.
Crabs explained that the band could only play a few more songs, but wanted to continue because Cornwall had asked them to finish the show.
Sticky Fingers’ sound engineer John “Johnny D” De Michele stepped in on bass for the closing run. The altered lineup performed “Australia Street”, “How to Fly” and “Liquorlip Loaded Gun” before ending the night with “Freddy Crabs”.
A review published by Rockaxis described visible conversations and glances towards the back of the stage during the acoustic passage, followed by the unscheduled songs and Cornwall’s absence from the final portion of the concert.
Some attendees reported musical mistakes and coordination problems shortly before Cornwall left the stage. Others mentioned paramedics moving backstage. Those observations establish the confusion inside the venue, but they do not explain what caused the medical episode.
No diagnosis or further explanation has been made public. The only confirmed detail about Cornwall’s condition is the band’s onstage statement that he had experienced breathing difficulties and was okay after being taken to hospital.
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