BBC NEWS 25 February 2000
Puerto Rican pop sensation Ricky Martin has been forced to postpone the Australian and South-East Asian dates of his world tour due to an equipment hitch.

The 28-year-old chart-topper was due to perform in March and April but equipment needed for his elaborate stage shows was not loaded on to a ship bound for Australia, said a spokesperson.

Martin is famous for his hip-swivelling live shows

Worldwide Concerts chairman Peter Korda said: "It meant that Australian audiences would be deprived of the full scale, multi-million dollar Ricky Martin concert production." "He does not want to disappoint by putting on half a show and has therefore decided to reschedule the tour."

Martin's tour throughout South-East Asia will also be rescheduled for later in the year, Korda added.

This is the second time that Martin has cancelled an Australian tour.

Last year he called-off a planned visit due to commitments at the MTV Music Awards in New York.

Spectacular show

His North American tour dates were a huge hit, with tickets for some venues selling out in a matter of minutes.

Martin proved he can still set the crowds alight with his performance inside a ring of fire at this week's Grammys.

But he failed to win any of the four awards he was nominated for, which included Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Record Of The Year.

The singer made a major impact on the UK last year, when his raunchy track Livin' La Vida Loca shot straight to the top of the UK charts.

He is nominated for an international artist prize in the forthcoming Brit awards and is scheduled to perform in the UK for two nights at Earls Court on the 12th and 13th of May.