Legendary Guitarist Al Di Meola, 69, Suffers Heart Attack While Performing On-Stage

Influential guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola prompted concerns after he began to clasp his chest while playing on-stage in Romania Wednesday.

According to reports, Di Meola, 69, was playing a set at the Arenele Romane venue in Bucharest when he suffered a heart attack.

More on the legendary guitarist’s medical emergency from The Daily Mail:

Images captured at the concert show Di Meola clasping his chest during the performance, and is said to have struggled to walk off stage. 

The other two members of Di Meola’s [trio] continued to play for several minutes following his departure, until they announced the show had to be cut short. 

In footage captured at the concert, one of his bandmates can be heard telling the crowd: ‘Thank you so much for coming out, Al Di Meola says hello to everybody.’

Di Meola suffered a myocardial infarction, or a heart attack, according to the AP.

“In a statement, the Bagdasar-Arseni emergency hospital said Di Meola was admitted to a cardiology ward where he is being treated for a segment elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction),” the AP reported Thursday.

After receiving treatment, Di Meola released a statement saying he would put his tour on hold until he recovers:

“I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love and support that I’ve received during the last 24 hours.

“Unfortunately, I’m facing a medical situation that requires some time off from performing and touring. 

“I want to assure you that I’m receiving the best care possible, and I’m fully committed to making a complete recovery.

“I’m planning to return in 2024, and I’m already looking forward to making music together once again. 

“Your unwavering support means the world to me, and it’s a driving force in my journey towards recovery.”

In a follow-up video Friday, Di Meola’s wife Stephanie gave an update thanking fans for the well-wishes and saying her husband was doing much better.

Following the guitarist’s medical emergency, questions emerged on social media asking if Di Meola’s heart attack may have been caused by a Covid jab, which has been known to trigger heart conditions like myocarditis, as well as strokes, blood clots, and heart attacks.