Depeche Mode lead singer David Gahan hospitalized in Athens

Depeche Mode

ATHENS, Greece - Depeche Mode lead singer David Gahan is not well enough to perform in Athens on Wednesday, concert organizers said, a day after he was rushed to hospital moments before he was to appear on stage.

Tuesday night's concert north of the Greek capital was canceled after Gahan, who turned 47 last month, fell ill and was hospitalized overnight. Neither organizers nor the hospital would say what he was suffering from.

About 20,000-30,000 fans who had turned up to hear the British band were told to retain their tickets in case the singer was well enough to reschedule the concert for Wednesday.

"Even though everyone hoped for the singer's speedy recovery and the rescheduling of the band's show for today ... according to the information received by the band's management and the doctor on duty, the artist's health condition does not allow it," the concert organizers, Didi Music, said in an announcement Wednesday afternoon.

The company said it would make a later announcement as to whether the concert would be rescheduled for another day or definitively canceled.

There was no immediate word on how Gahan's illness might affect the band's next stops on their tour schedule. They are due to play in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday, before heading to Romania for a Saturday concert in Bucharest.

The British band emerged in the early 1980s, releasing 46 singles and a dozen albums.