NEW YORK – Eric Clapton's scheduled concert on Moscow's Red Square next week has been canceled after Russian authorities abruptly withdrew their permission, the guitarist's publicist said.
A Russian promoter had received an official permit for Clapton to perform at the Red Square on Thursday, but officials withdrew that Friday, Clapton's publicist, Kristen Foster, said in a statement.
"Eric Clapton is extremely sorry to disappoint his numerous Russian fans but the circumstances of the cancellation are completely beyond his control," she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's press service relayed a request for information to the Kremlin administrative department, which could not be reached for comment.
Yevgeny Safronov, the director of the InterMedia company that organized the concert, said the show appeared to be in jeopardy.
Moscow box offices on Saturday suspended the sales of tickets, which cost as much as $370.
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