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Perth -The Rolling Stones on Tuesday cancelled the first gig of their Australian tour after the death of frontman Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott.
The veteran British band were due to play in Perth on Wednesday but the concert was cancelled after Scott, an American fashion designer to the stars, was discovered dead at her New York apartment.
Promoter Frontier Touring suggested that the gig could be rescheduled.
"No further information is available at this time, ticket holders are asked to hold on to their tickets until a further update is available," it said in a brief statement without mentioning the rest of the tour.
Following a tour of Asia, the band arrived in Perth on their private plane on Monday for the sold-out 14 On Fire series of dates, which takes them across Australia and to New Zealand until 5 April.
After Perth, they were due at the Adelaide Oval for an outdoor concert on Saturday. The venue usually hosts cricket matches and Jagger, a big fan of the sport, had been eagerly anticipating performing there.
Unconfirmed reports said the 70-year-old had flown back to New York. He and Scott, 49, had been dating since 2001 following his split from his second wife, Texan model Jerry Hall.
'Completely shocked and devastated'
New York police said Scott was found dead at 200 11th Avenue, a block of luxury apartments in the Chelsea district, shortly after 10:00 on Monday.
A spokesperson for Jagger said he was "completely shocked and devastated" at the news, while his model daughter Georgia May pulled out of Melbourne Fashion Week.
The 22-year-old was due to showcase Camilla Franks' collection, but the Sydney-based designer announced she would miss the festival.
"We offer our sincere condolences to Ms Jagger and her family," the Camilla label said in a statement.
The legendary rock group - which in 2012 marked its 50th anniversary together - were set to play Australia for the first time since 2006.
Former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, a member of the band from 1969 to 1974 who played on such classic albums as Exile on Main Street, Sticky Fingers and It's Only Rock 'n Roll, was due to join them as a special guest.
Social media alive with sympathy
Fans in Perth expressed deep disappointment at the cancellation, but understood the reason.
American Jeff Gussin, 49, spent $10 000 on a trip from the United States to see the band at all six of their Australian gigs.
"I first saw them in 1978 and have never looked back," he told AFP, adding that he had seen the band more than 500 times and used to work for them as a stagehand.
"I'm disappointed but it is what it is. My heart goes out to Mick. I didn't know L'Wren personally but I'm shattered."
Social media was alive with sympathy from Stones fans, but also frustration that it took all day for organisers to call off the concert.
"My condolences to Mick Jagger and family at this terrible time," tweeted Australian fan Margherita Dalu.
Another, Peter Smith, said before the announcement of the cancellation: "This time tomorrow I'm either getting ready to head up to Perth to meet friends, collect tickets and go to the concert. Or not. Let me know."
The veteran British band were due to play in Perth on Wednesday but the concert was cancelled after Scott, an American fashion designer to the stars, was discovered dead at her New York apartment.
Promoter Frontier Touring suggested that the gig could be rescheduled.
"No further information is available at this time, ticket holders are asked to hold on to their tickets until a further update is available," it said in a brief statement without mentioning the rest of the tour.
Following a tour of Asia, the band arrived in Perth on their private plane on Monday for the sold-out 14 On Fire series of dates, which takes them across Australia and to New Zealand until 5 April.
After Perth, they were due at the Adelaide Oval for an outdoor concert on Saturday. The venue usually hosts cricket matches and Jagger, a big fan of the sport, had been eagerly anticipating performing there.
Unconfirmed reports said the 70-year-old had flown back to New York. He and Scott, 49, had been dating since 2001 following his split from his second wife, Texan model Jerry Hall.
'Completely shocked and devastated'
New York police said Scott was found dead at 200 11th Avenue, a block of luxury apartments in the Chelsea district, shortly after 10:00 on Monday.
A spokesperson for Jagger said he was "completely shocked and devastated" at the news, while his model daughter Georgia May pulled out of Melbourne Fashion Week.
The 22-year-old was due to showcase Camilla Franks' collection, but the Sydney-based designer announced she would miss the festival.
"We offer our sincere condolences to Ms Jagger and her family," the Camilla label said in a statement.
The legendary rock group - which in 2012 marked its 50th anniversary together - were set to play Australia for the first time since 2006.
Former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, a member of the band from 1969 to 1974 who played on such classic albums as Exile on Main Street, Sticky Fingers and It's Only Rock 'n Roll, was due to join them as a special guest.
Social media alive with sympathy
Fans in Perth expressed deep disappointment at the cancellation, but understood the reason.
American Jeff Gussin, 49, spent $10 000 on a trip from the United States to see the band at all six of their Australian gigs.
"I first saw them in 1978 and have never looked back," he told AFP, adding that he had seen the band more than 500 times and used to work for them as a stagehand.
"I'm disappointed but it is what it is. My heart goes out to Mick. I didn't know L'Wren personally but I'm shattered."
Social media was alive with sympathy from Stones fans, but also frustration that it took all day for organisers to call off the concert.
"My condolences to Mick Jagger and family at this terrible time," tweeted Australian fan Margherita Dalu.
Another, Peter Smith, said before the announcement of the cancellation: "This time tomorrow I'm either getting ready to head up to Perth to meet friends, collect tickets and go to the concert. Or not. Let me know."
