George Thorogood pulls out of Summer Concert Tour

Colin Hay from Men at Work, and Alanis Morrisette are heading the Summer Concert Tour after George Thorogood (centre) pulled out. Photos / Supplied

One of the main acts headlining the New Zealand Summer Concert Tour has cancelled because of family illness.

George Thorogood and The Destroyers will no longer perform alongside Alanis Morissette and Colin Hay from Men at Work fame at the Taupo, Whitianga and Queenstown concerts in January.

Concert promoters Greenstone Entertainment chief executive Amanda Calvert said they sent Thorogood their best wishes and "completely understand that family must come first".

"We'd like to reassure our fans that the Summer Concert Tour will go ahead as planned."

Calvert said former members of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), known as The Orchestra, will perform instead.

Members of The Orchestra include Mik Kaminski "The Blue Violin" and Louis Clark "keyboards and arrangements". Their show will feature ELO's big hits such as Telephone Line, Don't Bring Me Down, Evil Woman and Livin' Thing.

Calvert said Fairground Saints will also perform.

The concerts will take place in Queenstown on January 20, Taupo on January 27 and Whitianga January 28.