10 Craziest Reasons Musicians Cancelled Gigs
2. Rivers Cuomo Was Tired Of Being Short
When a singer has to cancel a performance for a medical reason, it's usually something to do with their vocal cords. That is their instrument, after all, so it makes sense that they would need to take care of them properly.
Rivers Cuomo had to cancel a number of Weezer's performances in 1995 for surgery, but it wasn't his vocal cords that were the problem, it was his legs... technically, it was one of his legs.
Cuomo had inconsistent leg length, meaning his left leg was 44mm () shorter than his right. To correct the problem, he underwent leg lengthening surgery, which is a complex procedure with an extensive period of recovery.
Cuomo later discussed his reason for getting the procedure when he did despite the resulting cancellations in an interview with LA Weekly, where he indicated he had long suffered from "a huge inferiority complex about being a rock musician."
Why he chose to do the procedure when he did instead of a less impactful time is anyone's guess.