I've been surprised at the level of irritation shown towards David and the tour postponement on some other lists in particular. There seems to be a (disputed) suspicion that tickets weren't selling and that the injury is being used to mask the scaling down of what otherwise would have been a loss-making tour. It's an interesting debate, although if I were David I'd be rather offended. I do think some of the griping has a subtext: stop-making atonal rubbish, go back to nice ballads and then your gigs will sell.
For me this begs two questions:
1. Are Sylvian fans especially critical or is this par for the course for a 'devoted' following? I don't follow anyone else's music in quite the same way, so don't know. The only parallel I can think of is Radiohead - they seem to have a similar split between those who want them to remake Creep or Paranoid Android [Forbidden Colours, Orpheus] endlessly and those who like the post Kid A [Blemish] trajectory. Their following is on a different scale though and it's hard to gauge.
2. Would some/many/most Sylvian fans prefer if he stopped recording and became a heritage act? I know I'm showing my biases in the way that's phrased but I do wonder if some people - in their heart of hearts - would prefer to hear David singing the 80s material live again every few years and to give up on new material? They might say that they'd like more new music in the vein of the 80s trilogy, but that is surely unrealistic. I can't think of any band that have been able to repeat past glories by choice, from the Beatles on. Evolution or nostalgia seems the only choice. Paul McCartney anyone?
I'm not trying to be antagonistic...well, a bit maybe. Am curious as to what people's views are.