Sir Elton announces three-year farewell tour
SIR Elton John is to embark on a three-year farewell world tour as he bows out of live performing to spend more time with his children.
The 70-year-old hitmaker – who has been touring for almost 50 years – announced his retirement last night ahead of a celebratory concert next week at Madison Square Garden in New York.
He will kick off a mammoth 300date Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in the US in September before arriving in the UK and Europe in April 2019.
Announcing the decision, Sir Elton said his “priorities have changed”, adding that his and husband David Furnish’s two sons, Elijah and Zachary, had changed their lives.
“In 2015 we sat down with a school schedule and I thought I don’t want to miss too much of this.
“My life has changed, my priorities have changed and my priority now is my family.”
He added it was a chance “to say thank you to all my fans around he world and then to say goodbye. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to be creative any more.
“I have had a good run. I want to go out with a bang,” he added during the press conference in New York which he opened with a performance of Tiny Dancer and I’m Still Standing.
Asked if he could later reconsider his decision, Sir Elton vowed not to do a “Cher”, adding: “This is the end”.
He also rejected claims it was down to health problems he had experienced in recent years.