'Grease and rags' sewer fatberg halts Bryan Adams concert

Due to a "large" blockage in the sewer system caused by "grease, grime, and rags," Bryan Adams' scheduled concert in Australia was forced to cancel, citing public health concerns. The concert was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday at the RAC Arena in Perth.

Perth Water stated that the blockage in the main pipeline could cause sewage backflow in the venue's toilets, necessitating the cancellation of the concert. Grammy Award winner Adams apologized to fans on social media, many of whom had queued for hours only to be informed of the cancellation; Adams thanked them for their "patience and support" and promised to try to reschedule the show.

Concert organizers stated that the cancellation was "extremely disappointing" and that full refunds would be provided to ticket holders. "While every effort has been made to make the show happen, this matter is beyond the control of Bryan Adams, Frontier Touring, and RAC Arena," the organizers wrote in a statement.

Perth Water stated that the fatberg causing the disruption had "led to several wastewater overflows on the main line near the venue" and urged the public to avoid direct contact with "standing water" in the area. "We apologize for any inconvenience caused and will provide further updates as required," the company posted on Facebook, also informing about the concert cancellation.

Adams, known for songs such as "Summer of '69" and "Please Forgive Me," made his Australian debut in 1984 and has since been a beloved performer nationwide. He posted on social media on Sunday, "I'm so sorry I can't make the show happen tonight - I was really looking forward to seeing you all." The Canadian rock star still plans to perform in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne later this week.

Fatbergs, formed by the congealing of fats, oils, and grease with items such as rags or wet wipes, have been found in sewers around the world. They are known to cause serious blockages and environmental hazards. Last year, a fatberg weighing approximately the equivalent of three double-decker buses was cleared from a sewer in East London. In recent years, massive fatbergs have been discovered blocking waterways in New York, Denver, Melbourne, and Valencia.