Mick Box Will Miss Select Farewell Tour Dates

Mick Box has confirmed he will miss several early dates on Uriah Heep’s farewell tour after falling ill, marking the first time he has been absent from the band’s live shows since its formation in 1969. The announcement came via a joint statement from his bandmates, who shared the update across the group’s official channels.

According to the message, Box was taken ill ahead of the Scandinavian leg of The Magician’s Farewell Tour and has been advised to sit out the opening run of shows. The band stressed that his condition is being monitored daily and that his return will happen as soon as he is deemed fit to perform again.

While the situation is clearly disappointing for fans, the tone of the announcement leaned toward reassurance rather than alarm. Box sent his apologies directly to ticket holders and expressed his eagerness to rejoin the tour once his health allows, underlining how seriously the band is taking the situation at this late stage in their career.

A Trusted Stand-In Steps In

To ensure the shows could still go ahead, the band confirmed that guitarist Sam Wood would step in at short notice for the dates Box is unable to play. The decision was made with Box’s full blessing, a detail the band were keen to emphasize in their statement.

Wood is best known for his work with Black Star Riders and Wayward Sons, the latter fronted by former Little Angels singer Toby Jepson. His experience and familiarity with classic rock material made him a logical choice under the circumstances.

The band also asked fans to give Wood a warm welcome, acknowledging the pressure of stepping into such a historic role mid-tour. It’s a rare situation for a group so closely associated with its original guitarist, especially during what has been billed as a final goodbye.

A Rare Break in an Unbroken History

Box’s absence is notable given his famously resilient touring history. Even a serious accident in 1975, where he broke his wrist in four places after falling off a stage in Louisville, Kentucky, failed to keep him off the road, as he completed the remainder of the U.S. tour with his arm in a plaster cast.

That level of commitment has been a defining part of Uriah Heep’s identity over the decades. For more than half a century, Box has been a constant presence, making this brief pause all the more striking for longtime followers of the band.

In recent interviews, Box has been candid about the physical and logistical toll of touring later in life. Rising costs, post-Brexit travel restrictions, and the lingering effects of the pandemic have all played a role in shaping the band’s decision to wind things down, adding extra context to why health concerns are now being treated with caution.

The Magician’s Farewell Tour: Affected Dates

Below are the scheduled dates for Uriah Heep’s The Magician’s Farewell Tour, including the shows Box is expected to miss during the early Scandinavian leg. Further updates will be shared as his recovery progresses.

Uriah Heep: The Magician’s Farewell Tour 2026
Jan 22: Tampere Talo Oy, Finland
Jan 23: Turku Logomo Oy, Finland
Jan 24: Jyväskylä Paviljonki, Finland
Jan 25: Helsinki Kulttuuritalo, Finland
Jan 27: Stockholm Göta Lejon, Sweden
Jan 29: Oslo Konserthuset P-hus, Norway
Jan 30: Göteborg Trädgår’n, Sweden
Feb 01: Oslo Konserthuset P-hus, Norway
Feb 02: Stavanger Kuppelhallen, Norway
Feb 03: Bergen Grieghallen, Norway
Feb 04: Trondheim Olavshallen, Norway
Feb 06: Lund Science Village Hall, Sweden
Feb 07: Esbjerg Musikhuset, Denmark
Feb 09: København DR Koncerthuset, Denmark
Feb 10: Odense Musikhuset Posten, Denmark

Feb 23–27: Fort Lauderdale Rock Legends Cruise, FL

Jun 26: Basel Town Hall, Switzerland
Jul 17: Leipzig Parkbühne, Germany
Jul 18: Spalt Leider Am See, Germany
Jul 19: Maidstone Maid Of Stone Festival, UK
Jul 31: Winterbach Zeltspektakel, Germany
Aug 01: Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
Aug 07: Schlosspark Schwetzingen, Germany
Aug 24: Bochum Zeltfestival Ruhr, Germany
Aug 25: Gießen Giessener Kultursommer, Germany