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Goodbye yellow brick tours; Elton John announces farewell world concerts

Alicia Powell

 

Singer Elton John announces his final "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour after performing in Manhattan, New York, U.S., January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Elton John on Wednesday announced a three-year farewell world tour, saying he would quit traveling afterward to focus on life with his family.

 

The 70-year-old singer, one of the best-selling recording artists in the world over a 50-year career, told a news conference in New York that his priorities have changed after becoming a parent to two children with his husband David Furnish.

 

“I love them so much. I don’t want to miss them and I don’t want them to miss me,” he said. “I’ve had a good run.”

 

He said his last tour, called “Farewell Yellow Brick Road,” would start in September 2018 in the United States and would last through 2021, taking him all around the world.

 

“It will be a wonderful way to thank people,” he said. “It’s a way of going out with a bang. I’m not the kind of guy to go out with a whimper.”

John made the announcement after a live performance of his hits “Tiny Dancer” and “I‘m Still Standing.”

 

With a penchant for flamboyant stage costumes and an ear for piano rockers and ballads, John has dominated the pop industry for decades with hits like “Your Song” and “Candle in the Wind.”

 

On Wednesday, he denied British media reports that he was quitting touring because of ill health.

 

But he said he had been on the road since he was 17, adding; “I can’t physically do the traveling anymore. I want to be home with my children more.”

 

“I never thought that I could love anything as much as I love my sons... I never thought I could be a father, I thought I’m too selfish, too set in my ways,” he said.

 

John is due to perform at the Grammy Awards in New York on Sunday. On Jan 30, musicians including Miley Cyrus, John Legend, Chris Martin and Sam Smith will pay tribute to his music and career at a previously announced concert in New York.

 

John, who has Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards for his work in film and theater including “The Lion King” and “Billy Elliott,” said he planned to remain creative but said that after the tour he would likely take 2 or 3 years off from writing music.

 

Once a hard-partying rock star with a voracious appetite for cocaine and alcohol, John has achieved the kind of long-lasting fame enjoyed by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

 

He also was one of the first celebrities to become involved in the fight against AIDS. His AIDS Foundation, established in 1992, has raised millions of dollars for prevention and services.

 

Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles and Guy Faulconbridge in London, Editing by Franklin Paul in New York

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-25

[Kadilo]

Goodbye yellow brick tours; Elton John announces farewell world concerts
Alicia Powell
 



 
But he said he had been on the road since he was 17, adding; “I can’t physically do the traveling anymore. I want to be home with my children more.”
 

  -- [emoji767] Copyright Reuters 2018-01-25

............so I'll do a 3 year farewell tour.
Makes sense.


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[PattayaAngel]

Great career for the Diva and now she must retire. Now the long drawn-out 3 year bye-byes.  I feel a sniff and a tear coming.

[canuckamuck]

Really like his music, But a bit long in the tooth these days. Good time to bow out. I hope he realizes what missing three years of your kids' childhood means. He'll miss a lot.

 

Edited January 25, 2018 by canuckamuck

[Andrew Dwyer]

Say what you like about Elton, I have seen him twice and he gave an excellent show on both occasions in excess of 2 hours.
His early stuff ( from Empty Sky to Captain Fantastic ) were, IMHO, classics !!

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Say what you like about Elton, I have seen him twice and he gave an excellent show on both occasions in excess of 2 hours.
His early stuff ( from Empty Sky to Captain Fantastic ) were, IMHO, classics !!

 

Twice for me too

 

At Hemel Hempstead Pavillion and the Crystal Palace Bowl .......all those years ago.

 

I'm sure I must have enjoyed it then.

 

I doubt that I would now.

 

 

 

[Kadilo]

1 hour ago, canuckamuck said:

Really like his music, But a bit long in the tooth these days. Good time to bow out. I hope he realizes what missing three years of your kids' childhood means. He'll miss a lot.

 

I can't see him doing 3 years tbh. I can see him bowing out with some health related excuse before he gets anywhere near finishing. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

 
Twice for me too
 
At Hemel Hempstead Pavillion and the Crystal Palace Bowl .......all those years ago.
 
I'm sure I must have enjoyed it then.
 
I doubt that I would now.
 
 
 

Saw him in the uk ( Birmingham maybe ? ) in the late eighties, excellent !!

Saw him again 7 or 8 years ago in Rio, again he was excellent but it wasn’t so exciting for me as the first time. James Blunt opened for him and I have to say I liked him better, more interaction with the audience and funny as well .

[toughlove]

70 is to old. Will be interesting to see if he packs out stadiums or if he chooses smaller venues

[isaanbanhou]

10 minutes ago, toughlove said:

70 is to old. Will be interesting to see if he packs out stadiums or if he chooses smaller venues

Reminds me of a joke

 

His organ was better suited for chapels than cathedrals.     ...if he packs stadiums or chooses smaller venues 555. .i bet he like most of us prfer smaller venues.