10 rock bands that are on a farewell tour in 2023

I would say the popular song of Leandro & Leonardo: “I didn’t learn to say goodbye, but I have to accept it…” Sertaneja poetry aside, it is a fact that many artists and rock bands find it difficult to leave the scene.

Perhaps precisely because these same musicians did not believe that their careers would last so long. In Ozzy Osbourne to Mick Jagger, there are several interviews with artists stating that they imagined their trajectories in music existing for five or ten years. As all this proved to be a lucrative business (and the public accepted it), they continued. And they don’t always know when to stop.

However, some of these giants have understood that it is time to hang up their boots. There are even situations where they regret retirement and end up returning (Kiss, Scorpions, Judas Priest and the already mentioned ozzy are some of several), but in certain cases age already prevents the activities from continuing.

The following list features 10 rock artists and bands that are on a farewell tour right now. It does not necessarily mean that they will end in 2023, but that they are in the process. It remains to be seen whether they will actually retire in the sequel.

1) Kiss

The most emblematic case on the list. The masked hard rock band went on a farewell tour in the early 2000s, but ended up returning shortly thereafter. The official justification of the now seventy-year-olds Paul Stanley (voice and guitar) and Gene Simmons (voice and bass) is that, in fact, they just wanted to say “goodbye” to Ace Frehley (guitar) and Peter Criss (drums), troubled original members who had returned in the mid-1990s.

But this time it seems to be for real. Especially because if they deceive the fans again, it will get ugly. Since 2019 the band has been on their final tour, End of the Road, which was stopped for a long time due to the pandemic, but came back with everything and even had two passages through Brazil, this year and the previous one. The final shows take place on December 1st and 2nd at Madison Square Garden in New York – where it all began for the band.

2) Aerosmith

And since we are talking about American hard rock giants, it is necessary to mention the aerosmith. Also made up of seventy-somethings, the group confirmed that their farewell tour, Peace Out, will run between next September and January in North America.

The news was announced with an amusing video on YouTube. names like Ringo Starr, Slash, Eminem and Dolly Parton appear.

It is to be doubted that the tour will only stay in these few dozen announced dates. The band may tour other continents, such as Europe and our South America. But the farewell has been duly confirmed, so it’s only a matter of time.

3) Eagles

Even though it only has one original member (drummer and vocalist Don Henleynow 76 years old) and only two other musicians who participated in the band in the 1970s (guitarist Joe Walsh and the bassist Timothy B. Schmit, both at 75), the eagles was still active even as a way of honoring the vocalist and guitarist Glenn Frey – his son, deacon, joined the training in recent years. But the time has come to close the doors of the Hotel California.

the tour The Long Goodbye (second farewell of the group, it should be said) received this name precisely because the promise is of an extensive tour. The activities begin next September and should last until 2025. Steely Dan, another veteran name from the 1970s, will be in charge of the opening.

4) Mr Big

American hard rock band that became a phenomenon of popularity in Japan, the Mr Big decided to do a final tour after the drummer’s death Pat Torpey. Call The Big Finishthe initiative brings Nick D’Virgilio (Big Big Train) in the late musician’s vacancy, alongside Eric Martin (voice), Paul Gilbert (guitar) and Billy Sheehan (low).

The shows have already started and the idea is to expand until 2024, with the right to a visit to South America not yet detailed. In a statement (via the Igor Miranda website), Sheehan (now 70 years old) said that the Mr Big wants to make a “proper farewell”. In turn, gilbert (at 56) stated:

“We are in the process of ensuring that we create an appropriately large entertainment extravaganza to accompany our music. And because our music has resonated so wonderfully in places all over the world, we’re going to play in as many of those places as we can.”

5) Dead & Company

This case is even a little difficult to explain. O Dead & Company was formed as a kind of homage to the Grateful Dead, with musicians who were part of the legendary band: Bob Weir (guitar and vocals) mickey hart (battery) and Bill Kreutzmann (battery), along with John Mayer (guitar and vocals) Oteil Burbridge (bass, percussion and vocals) and Jeff Chimenti (keyboards). In 2023, it is worth highlighting, jay lane filled the vacancy left by Kreutzmann.

So, is the Dead & Company who is on a farewell tour; not the Grateful Dead, which ended activities in 1995, after the death of the leader Jerry Garcia. And, yes, we’ve gotten to the point where even spinoff bands are announcing farewell tours.

6) Foreigner

iconic name of AOR american, the foreigner went on a farewell tour that will only end in 2024. Now 78 years old, the guitarist mick jones (not to be confused with the homonym of the The Clash) is the only original member of the current lineup, which brings stamped hard rock figures, such as bassist Jeff Pilson (Dokken) and the vocalist Kelly Hansen (Hurricane).

Rumor has it that the original singer Lou Gramm can participate in some presentations. Nothing confirmed, however. In note (via website Igor Miranda), Jones stated:

“We will present a show that I know will have the same enthusiasm as our first appearances. The tour will start this summer in America and we hope to hit all the places we’ve played over the last few years. While I’m sure our fans will have mixed feelings about the end of the road for the band, I know our shows will delight audiences everywhere.”

7) Ted Nugent

Another farewell name (in this case an artist and not a band) is Ted Nugent. The controversial (to say the least) guitarist tours North America with the Goodbye Mold ’23.

In this case, the “goodbye” is just for the tours. The guitarist confirmed that he should continue releasing albums and, depending on the situation, even going up on stage again, but for sporadic performances. In an interview with Drew and Mike Show (via Blabbermouth), the 74-year-old artist stated:

“I have 12 grandchildren. I have dogs that just love me. My wife, Shemane… can you imagine saying ‘goodbye’ to her for more than 24 hours? No way.”

8) Kenny Loggins

Yet another solo name hanging up their boots, Kenny Loggins called their final tour This is It. In a formal translation, That’s it. The former member of the duo Loggins & Messina and owner of hits that rocked films like Top Gun and Footloose confirmed dates until the end of October, also restricted to North America.

In an official note (via the Igor Miranda website), the 75-year-old singer declared:

“It has been an incredible journey since I started with Jimmy Messina in 1971. I consider myself lucky to have had such a long career. I don’t see it as the end of my professional career, but certainly the big tours. I will play songs that I feel sum up the emotional story of my work. This will include 90% of the hits and 10 of the more obscure sounds.”

9) Candlebox

Perhaps the youngest band on this entire list, the candlebox he brings fifty who may even have firewood to burn, but don’t want to. The band formed in the 1990s announced an album and a farewell tour with the same name used by Eagles: The Long Goodbye (also a nickname for a final “fake” spin by the deep purple).

The grunge sound group will also make a documentary available. Far Behind: The Candlebox Story does not yet have a release date. To the journalist (via classic rock), the vocalist Kevin Martin states:

“My music career took up so much of my time that I realized I hadn’t given my family what they really needed from me, which was me.”

10) B-52’s

To close, a prominent name of the new wave: the B-52’s, who had done a farewell tour in 2022, but returned to repeat the “goodbye” dose this year. In this case, it won’t be a traditional tour, but a resident concert season in a Las Vegas house, plus a final show in California.

Still in 2022, the vocalist Kate Pierson, now 75 years old, he highlighted:

“Who would have thought that what started as a way to have fun and play music for our friends at parties in Athens in 1977 would evolve into over 45 years of making music and touring the world…”

Bonus: Elton John

The giant Elton John, now 76 years old, he entered as a “bonus” on this list because he, in fact, has already concluded his farewell tour. A Farewell Yellow Brick Road started in September 2018, went through an interval caused by the pandemic and only ended in July 2023.

It became the highest-grossing music tour in history, with $939 million from over 300 performances. None of them in Brazil, unfortunately.