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The 1975 replace Rage Against the Machine at Reading and Leeds festivals

Getty Images Matty HealyGetty Images
The 1975, fronted by Matty Healy, have not played a live show in the UK for two years

The 1975 will headline the Reading and Leeds festivals after Rage Against The Machine pulled out due to a medical issue involving their frontman.

The US band cancelled their European tour on Thursday, two weeks before they were due to headline the twin UK festivals and play a date in Edinburgh.

A statement said Zack de la Rocha was following "medical guidance".

It didn't specify the medical issue, but the 52-year-old singer injured his leg on stage in Chicago in July.

The 1975, made up of Matty Healy, George Daniel, Adam Hann and Ross MacDonald, have not played live in the UK since 2020.

The group, who last played Reading and Leeds in 2019, previously cancelled their 2021 live dates due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

All four of the 1975's albums have reached number one in the UK. Their fifth is due to be released later this year.

Getty Images Zack de la Rocha performing seated at Madison Square Garden in New York on 8 AugustGetty Images
Singer Zack de la Rocha has been performing seated since injuring his leg last month

Rage Against The Machine, known for the 1993 anti-authority anthem Killing in the Name, resumed their US tour with de la Rocha performing seated, and will play three more shows in New York this week.

"Then Zack must return home for rest and rehabilitation," Thursday's statement said. "The flights, travel time, and rigorous schedule in the UK and Europe are simply too much of a risk for a complete recovery.

"We are so sorry to all of our fans who have waited years to see us and hope to Rage again soon."

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The band had originally been booked to headline Reading and Leeds in 2020, but that was called off because of Covid.

Festival organisers have not yet announced a replacement. The Arctic Monkeys and Dave are headlining the other days at the event, which takes place from 26-28 August.

Rage Against the Machine have also cancelled dates in France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Poland, Croatia and the Czech Republic.