After an astounding 50 years on the road, the iconic Elton John has officially retired from touring. The legendary artist bid farewell to his fans during his final tour act at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena, marking the end of his incredible Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
As he wrapped up his concert with heartfelt performances of “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” the 76-year-old John expressed his gratitude to the audience, saying, “I’ve had the most incredible career, beyond words. How fortunate am I to be able to play music for 52 years?”
Acknowledging his fans’ unwavering support, John added, “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you. You bought the singles, albums, CDs, and cassettes, but more importantly, you bought the concert tickets, and you know how much I enjoy performing live.”
In a post-show statement, the five-time Grammy winner further thanked his dedicated fans, who have stood by him throughout his journey spanning over five decades. “My fans have been there for me every step of the way,” he said.
“They’ve remained with me, they’ve supported me, they’ve been patient, and they’ve been coming to every single event. Tonight has been a beautiful night. I’m still processing everything, and it will take a while before I’m finally done touring. I can’t express how much I’m going to miss the fans or how much their love has humbled me – it will live on in my heart forever.”
During the event, Elton John received a special message from Chris Martin, the lead vocalist of Coldplay, who coincidentally was also performing in Sweden at the same time.
Martin conveyed his love and admiration, saying, “Elton, we just wanna say, from all of us here, from all the bands and artists that you’ve loved, inspired, and helped, we just love you so much. We love you tremendously. Happy retirement, and we’ll miss you terribly, dude.”
Taking to Instagram before the highly anticipated event, the “Tiny Dancer” singer reflected on the memorable journey that his tour has been. “What a journey this tour has been, and now we find ourselves at the end of it,” he wrote. “Tonight is the final night.”
While Elton John has retired from touring, fans can still look forward to seeing him perform in other capacities in the years to come.
As his husband and manager, David Furnish, clarified, “It’s essential to distinguish between Elton retiring from touring and Elton not performing his very last public performance for the very last time. I know he will not be touring in any capacity. What you’ll see is the prospect of a spectacular one-time event or a short residency in a single place for a limited time.”
With a legendary career that has left an indelible mark on the music industry, Elton John’s retirement from touring is a bittersweet moment for fans around the world. As we bid farewell to his live performances, we can look back on his remarkable journey and cherish the timeless music that he has given us.
