Fortunately, his son Ben Hayward was available to step into his shoes as a replacement singer for the Rock Tenor Anthems Tour, which had its opening show at Dunedin’s Mayfair Theatre last night.
The show will continue over the next few nights in Dunedin before heading to other theatres in Greymouth, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Oamaru, Wanaka, Gore and Invercargill throughout July and August.
The group will be performing some of the world’s most loved rock anthems from AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, REM, Toto, David Bowie, Meatloaf, INXS, Poison, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Supertramp, Aerosmith, Queen and many more.
Hayward (21) said he took over from his dad because he was a Dunedin teacher who was too busy to take time off for the month-long tour.
"It would have been cool to be able to do the shows with him, but the next best thing is being able to step up and take his place.
"Who wouldn’t love the opportunity to sing AC/DC, REM, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin?
"I’m really excited about touring."
Rock Tenors producer Doug Kamo said their experience and vocal ability across multiple music genres, from opera to musical theatre and contemporary rock to thrash metal, allowed them to reinvent the standard rock vocal arrangements with harmonic complexity that created an incredibly exciting, immersive and nostalgic rock experience.
He was inspired to take the show on tour when there was "huge interest all around the country" for the rock-infused vocal performance following its Dunedin shows last year.
Last year’s Rock Tenors was a two-hour interactive rock experience that rose from the ashes of the Queen musical comedy We Will Rock You when it was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 red light restrictions.
He said the Rock Tenors production was only meant to keep the ensemble busy while they looked for work during the pandemic, but when its popularity soared "way beyond all expectations", he proposed the tour.
"To do this is the cherry on the top, really. I never ever thought that would happen. We’re pretty proud of it all."
