Motörhead
Los Angeles Celtic punk band Flogging Molly have been forced to cancel all of their 2025 tour dates due to health issues faced by frontman Dave King.
The band shared the news on social media, alerting fans that Flogging Molly will be unable to headline their own Salty Dog Cruise, which launches on Feb. 17 as a five-night trip from Port of Miami to Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
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“Our fearless leader, the inimitable Dave King, is currently battling a very serious health condition,” the group wrote. “Dave and Bridget ask everyone to respect their privacy at this time, we will share as we can. Any good thoughts or prayers you can send Dave’s way, he and we would appreciate it.
“Unfortunately Flogging Molly will be unable to perform shows in 2025. With the Salty Dog Cruise 12 days away, the boat will sail as planned with 18 bands, and members of Flogging Molly, on board to celebrate the cruise, the community and our captain, Dave King.”
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Currently no further details in regard to King’s condition have been made available. Flogging Molly’s 2025 tour itinerary was expected to kick off in earnest on Feb. 24 following their cruise, with dates in the U.S. scheduled across February and March, and shows throughout Europe and Canada planned across June, July, and August.
The Irish-born King formed Flogging Molly in 1994 after years spent as a musician in the U.K. Rising to fame as the vocalist for Fastway alongside ex-Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke, King briefly performed with former Krokus guitarist Mandy Meyer in Katmandu before navigating his way out of a record contract with Epic Records to found Flogging Molly in Los Angeles.
The band released their first album in 2000, with 2008’s Float becoming their most successful to date – peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The most recent studio album, Anthem, was released in 2022 and became the first in their career not chart.
Just weeks after Scorpions drummer Mikkey Dee detailed his near-death experience following a sepsis diagnosis, the band has made the decision to postpone their upcoming Las Vegas residency.
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The residency was originally slated to launch on Feb. 28 and run until March 11 as part of the German band’s 60th anniversary celebration. Performing at PH Live at Planet Hollywood and supported by Buckcherry, the group took to social media late last week to announce their new dates.
“We regret to inform you that due to Mikkey Dee’s ongoing recovery from his recent hospitalization, we have made the decision to postpone our Coming Home to Las Vegas Residency to August 2025,” they wrote. “The health and well-being of our brother is of the utmost importance. We wish Mikkey a full and speedy recovery and look forward to rocking with you all again soon!”
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The new dates will see the Scorpions performing in Las Vegas from Aug. 14 – 23, with all previous tickets honored for the new dates. The group are still scheduled to return to the stage in March, with a Mexico City show set for March 15.
Dee first detailed his health issues in early January, revealing he had been hospitalized following a “very serious” blood infection. He later expanded upon the health scare in an interview with Swedish publication Aftonbladet, explaining that what began as a simple sprain quickly evolved into something far worse on the weekend before Christmas.
“The ankle swelled up like hell, then it took on a weird shape and appearance and looked like an overcooked ham,” Dee said. “I became very ill so I had to go by ambulance to Sahlgrenska and there they found that I had sky-high values, so I became priority one there.
“It was surgery right away, the first of three. They cut away what was dead and infected and badly infested. It was not a good journey I was on… Another day and I’d be playing drums with Lemmy in heaven. I can say that.”
Somewhat coincidentally, his near-death experience took place almost nine years to the day since his Motörhead bandmate Lemmy Kilmister passed away, on Dec. 28, 2015.
Dee has performed with Scorpions since early 2016, joining the band in the wake of Motörhead’s untimely dissolution in late 2016. To date, Dee has only played on one of the band’s albums, providing percussion for their 19th album, 2022’s Rock Believer.
Former Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee says he’s lucky to be alive following a sepsis diagnosis over the holiday period.
The Swedish percussionist shared news of his health scare on social media on Thursday (Dec. 2), explaining that he had been hospitalized following a blood infection he described as “very serious”.
“I was admitted for three weeks but now I am home fighting this bastard bacteria,” he shared. “Thankfully, I have received fantastic care at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, my hometown.
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“So thanks a million to all the Doctors and Nurses that have been giving me the most excellent care,” he added. “After several operations, I am now back home and the numbers are all going in the right direction. Still lots of recovery and rehab in front of me.”
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In an interview with Swedish publication Aftonbladet, Dee expanded upon the experience. He told the outlet that what began as a simple sprain quickly evolved into something far worse on the weekend before Christmas.
“The ankle swelled up like hell, then it took on a weird shape and appearance and looked like an overcooked ham,” Dee said. “I became very ill so I had to go by ambulance to Sahlgrenska and there they found that I had sky-high values, so I became priority one there.
“It was surgery right away, the first of three. They cut away what was dead and infected and badly infested. It was not a good journey I was on… Another day and I’d be playing drums with Lemmy in heaven. I can say that.”
In some strange synchronicity, Dee’s brush with death occurred almost nine years to the day since his Motörhead bandmate Lemmy Kilmister passed away, on Dec. 28, 2015. Notably, his health scare also took place mere weeks after he took to social media to refute premature reports of his death.
First rising to fame as a member of Danish outfit King Diamond in the ’80s, a stint with Don Dokken saw Dee recruited by Motörhead to replace Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor on drums. Dee would remain with the group until their 2015 dissolution in the wake of Lemmy’s passing, and joined German rockers the Scorpions the following year.
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