Anthony Kiedis Rushed To Hospital, Red Hot Chili Peppers Forced To Cancel Gig

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Anthony Kiedis, lead singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, was rushed to the hospital Saturday night according to ABC News. The loss of Kiedis forced the Peppers to cancel a scheduled concert in Orange County.

According to Billboard, Anthony Kiedis was suffering from “extreme stomach pains” and was transported by ambulance. Kiedis and the rest of the Red Hot Chili Peppers were just hours from taking the stage as the headlining act for Los Angeles radio station KROQ’s annual Weenie Roast. Peppers bassist Flea broke the news of Anthony’s illness to the pumped up crowd and fellow rockers Weezer became the show’s closing act.

“Anthony [Kiedis] is on his way to the hospital right now,” Flea reportedly announced. “We are devastated about it. We live to rock… but unfortunately there’s a medical thing that happened and he needed to deal with it.”

While no updates have been given regarding Anthony Kiedis’ condition and representatives of the the Red Hot Chili Peppers have yet to comment since the initial announcement of Anthony’s hospitalization, music fans are undoubtedly feeling a little anxious over Kiedis’ sudden rush for medical help.

The 53-year-old Kiedis has a past history of drug abuse, but Anthony has proudly touted his sobriety for more than fifteen years. In fact, Kiedis, who proclaims to live close to a vegan lifestyle, was considered one of Men’s Fitness Magazine‘s Best Rock Star Abs and is often asked about his exercise regime.

Kiedis discussed the Chili Peppers and their success with Rolling Stone Magazine following the band’s nomination and induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. At the time, Anthony vocalized how the honor also caused him to mourn the loss of his fellow founding Chili Pepper Hillel Slovak who died as a result of a heroin overdose– a drug habit he and Anthony Kiedis developed together.

“The most emotional part for me was thinking about Hillel Slovak. That was where it got me,” Kiedis remarked. “…there was something about going back and thinking about something that we started in a living room with Hillel Slovak. Because he’s no longer with us, it seemed emotional and beautiful.”

The death of Slovak affected Anthony so greatly that he reportedly refused to attend the funeral and Kiedis eventually was prompted by the loss to go to rehab for help in kicking his own habit.

Though it’s unlikely that Anthony has had a relapse and forgone his many years of hard work to maintain good health, it’s not unheard of for former addicts like Kiedis to be tempted as they work in an industry rampant with drug use. Just last week, the Inquisitr reported on rocker Ozzy Osbourne’s separation from wife Sharon and fans immediately feared it meant Ozzy had fallen off the wagon.

But in reality, most music fans are probably on edge over Kiedis’ hospitalization because 2016 has not been kind to music icons. Many fear Anthony Kiedis will join the long list of 2016 musician deaths including David Bowie, Prince, Merle Haggard, The Eagles’ Glenn Frey, and Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner to name a few. Fans immediately took to Twitter pleading for the rock gods to spare Anthony Kiedis from a similar fate.

rock gods, please leave Anthony Kiedis alone

— Jordan Van Vranken (@jorvanvranken) May 15, 2016

God… Please take George Zimmerman and leave Anthony kiedis alone

— dirk givenoshitski (@brooklyngohard) May 15, 2016

Anthony Kiedis has been the frontman for the Red Hot Chili Peppers since its inception in 1983. Kiedis and the Chili Peppers have recorded ten albums, won six Grammys, and helped create what is known as the “funk rock” movement.

[Anthony Kiedis cover image via Christopher Polk/Getty Images.]