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WINNIPEG - Neil Young won't be at tomorrow's Juno Awards, but the show will go on. And it will still rock, organizers promised.
"The show is still going to be great. It's disappointing, but we're most concerned about his health," said Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) chairman Ross Reynolds.
The former Winnipegger was forced to cancel his appearance at the Junos following surgery Tuesday in New York for a brain aneurysm. He is expected to make a full recovery.
"I grew up (in Winnipeg) and was really looking forward to the show as well as spending some time with my old friends and family," Young said in a statement. "Thanks to my doctors, I'm feeling a lot better now, so I hope I can get a rain check."
Chantal Kreviazuk has also cancelled her trip after doctors advised the seven-and-a-half month pregnant singer-songwriter not to fly.
But internationally acclaimed Young was the big ticket entertainer Winnipeggers were excited about seeing the most. He attended the 1982 Junos and vowed he wouldn't be back unless they were held in Winnipeg, where he got his start as a teenager.
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Most of the country's music industry big shots were attending an opening reception at the Centennial Concert Hall last night when they found out about Young's cancellation.
"I think the important thing is not the show on the weekend, but Neil's health. Some things are more important than a show on a Sunday night," said local host committee chairman Kevin Walters, summing up the mood of many at the reception.
"I'm sure a lot of groups will be playing his music this weekend," said Manitoba Premier Gary Doer. "He may not be here, but his music plays on. His health is the most important thing."
"Maybe we can use our collective positive energy to wish him well," provincial Tory leader Stuart Murray said.
Young, 59, experienced trouble seeing after performing with the Pretenders at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show in New York on March 14.
An MRI scan revealed the source of the problem, but Young spent the next week in Nashville working on a new project instead of having immediate surgery.
A seven hour special on the "Godfather of grunge" will still air tomorrow on 101.5 UMFM, vowed devastated Young fan Joe Myles.
"That's too bad for Neil and too bad for the whole event. It puts a damper on the whole thing," he said.
Veteran radio host Howard Mandshein believed Winnipeggers would pull together and carry on regardless, while keeping Young in their thoughts.
"I hope we dig deep and do it for Neil, for the spirit of Neil," he said.
CARAS will hold a press conference today to announce how Young's cancellation would affect tomorrow night's show.