Say goodbye eye
Paul Simon leads wave of farewell tours.
Saying goodbye is trending in the music world. And that’s leading thousands of fans to snatch up tickets to see such legendary artists as Paul Simon, Joan Baez and Ozzy Osbourne for perhaps the last time in concert.
Yes, the farewell tour is hot in 2018. It’s also a sign of the times, when many of the top concert attractions are in their 60s and 70s.
“Time eventually catches up with all of us,” says Gary Bongiovanni, editor of the concert industry publication Pollstar. “If they could keep going physically, many of them would.”
But …
“Ozzy can’t keep barking at the moon forever,” he adds.
Here’s a roundup of the biggest farewell tours scheduled for the Bay Area in 2018 and early 2019. (Note: This does not include some legendary acts, such as Neil Diamond and Aretha Franklin, who are retiring but do not have dates scheduled.)
Paul Simon
LAST HURRAH >> Fans will be “Feelin’ Groovy” (and, undoubtedly, a little sad as well) as Simon says goodbye with his “Homeward Bound” farewell tour, which currently has dates scheduled into September.
BAY AREA DATE >> 8 p.m. May 25, Oracle Arena, Oakland; $59.50-$159.50; www.ticketmaster.com.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE HIM >> He’s one of the greatest pop music songwriters of all time, right up there with Paul McCartney, Gordon Lightfoot, Brian Wilson and Smokey Robinson. And, whether you’ve seen him a
hundred times before or never at all, you simply don’t want to miss the chance to hear such classics as “Mother and Child Reunion,” “Loves Me Like a Rock,” “Slip Slidin’ Away,” “Graceland” and “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” in concert.
DESERT ALBUM DISC >> “Paul Simon” (1972)
CHANCES HE’LL TOUR AGAIN >> If Simon & Garfunkel could get back together again (and again) then anything is possible. Let’s give it a 30 percent chance.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
LAST HURRAH >> The band will keep the Southern rock pumping through at least Sept. 1 on their “Last of the Street Survivors” farewell tour.
BAY AREA DATE >> 6 p.m. May 25, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View; $29.50-$129.50; www. livenation.com.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE THEM >> I’ve got two words for you: “Free Bird.” Yes, it’s a rock ’n’ roll cliché. Yes, it’s the butt of about half of the concert jokes out there. And, yes, it’s something that every rock fan needs to experience at least once in concert. Even after all these decades, the song still flies like no other, especially once those dueling electric guitars really lock in. Plus, you’ll get to hear a ton of other good songs (“Tuesday’s Gone,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” etc.). And don’t forget the opening acts — Bad Company, Blackberry Smoke and the Outlaws.
DESERT ISLAND DISC >> “(Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd)” (1973)
CHANCES THEY’LL TOUR AGAIN >> I’d say right around 100 percent. We’re not buying that this band will hang it up until they’ve played every arena, amphitheater, motorcycle rally and flea market — at least twice.
Slayer
LAST HURRAH >> These SoCal metal men are making their exit with
one final world tour, which currently extends into late August.
BAY AREA DATES >> 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Papa Murphy’s Park, Sacramento; $39.50-$55; 5 p.m. Aug. 26, SAP Center, San Jose; $55$65; www.ticketmaster.com.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE THEM
>> Slayer is known as one of thrash metal’s “big four,” alongside Megadeth, Anthrax and, of course, Metallica. The band hits as hard as anyone in music history, combining speed, precision, aggression and talent in delightfully terrifying and satisfying ways. Just imagine Imagine Dragons. And then imagine the opposite. That’s Slayer. Plus, the overall bill is stellar, with Lamb of God, Anthrax, Testament, Behemoth (Sacramento only) and Napalm Death (San Jose only) onboard.
DESERT ALBUM DISC >> “Reign in
Blood” (1986)
CHANCES THEY’LL TOUR AGAIN >> They’ve been such road warriors over the years that I think they’ll miss it. Putting the chances at 70 percent.
Ozzy Osbourne
LAST HURRAH >> The Ozz man’s “No More Tours 2” farewell tour reportedly will stretch into 2020.
BAY AREA DATE >> Headlines 107.7 The Bone Presents Bone Bash XVIII (with Stone Sour); 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View; $29.50$125; www.livenation.com.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE HIM >> He’s one of the most significant artists in rock ’n’ roll history. First, he helped draw up the blueprint for heavy metal as a member of Black Sabbath. Then he pioneered radio-friendly hard rock as a solo artist. Along the way, he’s been a part of some of the best rock albums ever made. Also, his current band — which, thankfully, once again includes ace guitarist Zakk Wylde — is all muscle and able to do justice to the Sabbath material.
DESERT ISLAND DISC >> (Tie) “Blizzard of Ozz” (1980) and “Diary of a Madman” (1981)
CHANCES HE’LL TOUR AGAIN >> Very high. Note that this is the “No More Tours 2” tour, which follows the “No More Tours” tour of 1992. So, there’s probably a 90 percent chance we’ll see a “No More Tours III” tour down the road.
Elton John
LAST HURRAH >> The piano man is planning a long goodbye, with his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour already booked until September 2019.
BAY AREA DATES >> Bay Area fans will have to wait a while to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who performs Jan. 16 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Jan. 18 at Oracle Arena in Oakland and Jan. 19 at the SAP Center in San Jose. See www.ticketmaster.com for information.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE HIM >> The set list is going to be awesome, filled with so many hits that you — and all the people who’ll be sitting around you — will know by heart. And there’s nothing quite like hearing 15,000 people croon a tender ballad like “Tiny Dancer.” Expect to be hoarse the next morning. But it will be well worth it. DESERT ISLAND DISC >> “Madman Across the Water” (1971)
CHANCES HE’LL TOUR AGAIN >> Yeah, we basically don’t trust anybody when it comes to these kinds of “final tour” proclamations. Elton just loves the spotlight too much. Call it a 50 percent chance.
Joan Baez
LAST HURRAH >> The Bay Area music hero has “Fare Thee Well” tour dates scheduled into February.
BAY AREA DATES >> 8 p.m. Nov. 15, The Masonic, San Francisco; $59.50-$89.50; 8 p.m. Nov. 17 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18, Fox Theater, Oakland; $55-$125.50; www. ticketmaster.com.
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE HER >> She’s a first-tier music hero who has been performing and recording for roughly 60 years. During her first decade in the business, she greatly helped popularize folk music, as well as the music of an aspiring singer-songwriter by the name of Bob Dylan. Since then, she’s remained a force both in the music industry and for social change, seemingly always ready to lend her vocals for a good cause.
DESERT ISLAND DISC >> “Diamonds and Rust” (1975)
CHANCES SHE’LL TOUR AGAIN >> Come on! We’re talking about Joan Baez. If we can’t trust her, who can we trust? (OK, maybe a 20 percent chance.)