After an extraordinary career that spanned over half a century, Elton John has officially retired from touring. The music legend concluded his farewell tour, “Farewell Yellow Brick Road,” with a spectacular final performance at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena on Saturday.
“I’ve had the most incredible career, beyond words. How fortunate am I to be able to play music for 52 years?” John, 76, expressed his gratitude to the audience as he closed the concert with his iconic songs “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
He acknowledged the importance of his dedicated fans in his journey. “But, you know, 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.”
Following the show, the five-time Grammy winner extended his heartfelt appreciation to his fans for their unwavering support throughout the years. “My fans have been there for me every step of the way. They’ve remained with me, supported me, and attended every single event,” he stated in a post-show statement.
John admitted that he would miss his fans dearly. “Tonight has been a beautiful night. I’m still processing everything, and it’ll take a while before I’m finally done touring. I can’t tell you 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, the singer received a special message from Chris Martin of Coldplay, who was performing in Sweden at the same time. Martin expressed 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. Happy retirement and we’ll miss you terribly, dude.”
Earlier on Saturday, John took to Instagram to share his thoughts ahead of the final show. “What a journey this tour has been, and now we find ourselves at the end of it. Tonight is the final night.”
Although Elton John has retired from touring, he and his management have hinted at future performances in different forms. “It’s essential to distinguish between Elton retiring from touring and Elton not performing his very last public performance for the very last time,” explained his husband and manager, David Furnish.
While John won’t be embarking on any more tours, fans can look forward to the possibility of a memorable one-time event or a short residency in a single place for a limited time.
Elton John’s legacy is beyond measure. His music has touched the hearts of millions, and his retirement from touring marks the end of an era. Though his live performances may no longer be a regular occurrence, his timeless songs will continue to resonate with fans for generations to come.
