A recent traumatic moment forced the word tour out of Enrique Bunbury’s vocabulary. The Aragonese artist revealed to fans that a return to live performances, at least in touring format, had been shelved after he pinpointed the root of his throat discomfort to the fumes produced at concerts. He introduced this in a weekly newsletter, a departure from social networks that promised direct responses to fans’ questions.
In the inaugural letter, Bunbury explains that a large portion of the more than 2,500 emails received were redirected, as many questions centered on this particular issue. He confesses weariness from ongoing symptoms and a mounting doubt that troubled him every morning upon waking in a hotel. Surrounded by a team of around twenty people, he asked himself, with a mix of anxiety and honesty, how he felt on that day and whether the path of The Spectacle could be completed. He admits to searching for an explanation—perhaps altitude, humidity, or a fickle virus—and even ponders whether the problem could be psychological, a mind closed to the possibility of touring life and unwilling to continue enjoying it.
During the post-pandemic comeback, what had felt free soon revealed new health concerns. Bunbury recounts that once the Mexico leg of the tour began, symptoms intensified. A persistent nighttime cough disrupted sleep, breathing became labored, and a gritty, sand-like sensation settled in the lungs. He wrapped up the Mexican stretch—roughly five weeks—with some shows canceled, uncertain whether there were two or three performances left to go. The decision emerged to end the tour there, with the intention of retiring after this tour, if circumstances allowed.
“I had a compulsive nighttime cough that prevented me from sleeping and resting: I was having trouble breathing and felt a sand like feeling in my lungs”
Then the United States leg began, bringing further questions and a string of consultations with several experts. The journey of diagnosis carried on until a Chicago concert brought a pivotal moment: a determination to not finish the tour. Bunbury describes two standout performances in New York and Atlanta, but Chicago portended a turning point. He experienced renewed coughing fits and a complete lack of sleep the night before the show. Realizing the problem was serious and persistent, the team chose to cut the tour short and return to Los Angeles to work with specialists in hopes of understanding what had occurred. The decision felt final, and the artist resolved not to endure a trauma of that magnitude again.
“Artistic creativity is something that continues to excite me, and right now my days are occupied with writing, painting and composing”
In the end, the search pointed to a simple, yet alarming culprit: propylene glycol, a substance present in the smoke used during concerts. Bunbury explains that the realization brought relief: it was not a personal failing, but a poisonous product that had affected his health. That clarity allowed him to acknowledge that he was in good health overall, even as the tour paused. The experience shifted focus away from the stage and toward the studio, where Bunbury finds renewal in writing, painting, and composing. The conclusion highlights how artistic pursuits remain a driving force, even when live performances pause. The episodes underscore a commitment to safety and a renewed perspective on what makes art meaningful for him at this moment.