LONDON - BRITISH pop group Simply Red said on Monday they had to cancel a live appearance on Brazilian television at the weekend after singer Mick Hucknall's plane was forced to make an emergency landing.

Hucknall, who will next month celebrate 25 years of the group, best known for the 1989 hit 'If You Don't Know Me By Now,' was flying into Rio De Janeiro when the cabin pressure dropped and oxygen masks failed to come down.

'The plane had to make a quick descent from 35,000 feet (10,700m) to 5,000 feet and was left without enough fuel to continue its journey to Rio,' a statement on the band's website said.

Having taken off from the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, the plane had to land instead in the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo.

Hucknall could not get to the live show in Rio in time and the group had to cancel their performance on Domingao do Faustao.

However, he was said to be 'in good spirits' and would be ready for shows in Sao Paolo and Rio this week.

'The Brazilian audience has always been a great support to us and we love performing here. I am very proud to come back to Brazil to share 25 amazing years through our songs,' Hucknall said. -- AFP