Hold me close now tiny dancer! Elton John has announced his retirement from live touring. But fear not – the 70-year old will complete a 300-date tour beginning at the end of 2018 and spanning over 2019 before the Crocodile Rock singer hangs up his touring sunglasses for good. The Yellow Brick Road tour will encompass five continents, as Elton (real name Reginald Dwight) claims he wants to spend more time with his husband, David Furnish, and their family. But what does it mean for the self-proclaimed ‘Rocket Man’ – and does the 2-year tour signal the end for the renowned musician’s career?
 

When is the Farewell Tour?

The American leg of the tour will kick off at the PPL Centre in Allentown, Pennsylvania in September 2018 and draw to a close in March 2019 at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida one week before the singer’s birthday on March 25th. After a quick break, the European leg of the tour will see Elton jetsetting around the continent over summer 2019, with dates already set in Belgium, Germany, Poland, Denmark, and Switzerland. With the uptake of tickets already fairly high, they will undoubtedly sell out quickly when the dates – including predicted UK dates – are released later in the year. Allowing fans over two years to say goodbye and many opportunities to obtain tickets to see him play is only fitting for one of music’s most legendary greats.
 

Will Elton John Take Another Residency?

While his touring days are over, the Rocket Music-signed artist hasn’t ruled out a residency somewhere – perhaps something similar to Kate Bush’s 22-night run in London’s Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith back in 2014. In fact, he had his own residency in Las Vegas that will play its final show in May 2018, the Million Dollar Piano show. Elton’s 207 shows – over a seven year period – brought in the singer approximately $404,541 in revenue per show, according to Betway Casino’s research on the biggest Las Vegas acts. Should he return to a residency in Vegas, John would be in good company, with Vegas legend Celine Dion reportedly totalling $229,086,433 in her own residency at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace. John’s previous residency at Caesar’s Palace, The Red Piano show, ran from 2004 to 2009, bringing in fans from far and wide, so the singer is no stranger to performing on the strip.

 

Will Elton John Be Back on the Road?

This isn’t the first time the ‘I’m Still Standing’ crooner announced his retirement from touring. 40 years ago, in 1977, Elton revealed that he was taking a break from the road – only to return two years later. The singer is by no means retiring for good, having said he doesn’t enjoy the downtime and has a few more albums in him. Citing his need to relax and see friends while recording albums from home, many suspect that a recent health scare may have prompted Elton’s decision. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee had to cancel a spate of tours back in 2017 after contracting a rare infection in South America, which many claim has prompted the final tour. But, if history repeats itself, we could even expect to see Elton back on the road. Musicians are fond of announcing farewells and retirements only to feel the pull of performing live some years later.
 

What Are Elton John’s Biggest Hits?

Elton John – while resonating with the audience he developed for himself from the 1960s onwards – is also a hit with newer generations of music fans. His timeless classics have endured and Elton John’s star has never waned in his illustrious career. Elton – and writing partner Tim Rice – penned cult and commercial hit The Lion King (1993), which was then adapted for both Broadway and the West End. More recently, he was even in the running at the latest UK Music Video Awards for Bennie and the Jets, against Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa. Music newcomer Olly Chamberlain even cited Elton John as one of his musical inspirations, keeping the star’s music alive through the musically minded fans. While folk singer Darshana Congreve also cites the blues nature of Elton’s work as an inspiration. His Greatest Hits album, containing most of his classics including ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, and ‘Your Song’, sold 17 million copies and was listed as number 13 on The Independent’s 50 Best Selling Albums listing.

But despite churning out future albums, the music industry will definitely notice his absence from the gig circuit – having played around 133 shows a year for the past 20 years. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE will no doubt immortalise his own words that he is still standing – and will continue to produce hits, amaze fans, and live up to the Hall of Fame title and knighthood his tireless feats of music earned him.