Resurgence of the Retired Rock Bands

Seems like rockers and rocking chairs are not a good mix these days. Perhaps it’s the fact that we have all been cooped up for months on end from Covid-19 fears and facts. Or maybe the musicians have finally realized that we the fans have an insatiable appetite to see them perform live. Whichever is the case, we, the fans, are delighted to see that there is a resurgence of the retired rock bands and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Who, the British rock legends, declared their retirement from the road forty years ago when they went on their Schlitz Rocks America farewell tour. They'll be performing in concerts in North America in 2022 starting in late April.

Sir Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour has been in full swing in North America even after announcing his retirement from performing all the way back in 1977. The tour has a brief swing to Europe late spring 2022 and then makes a glorious return back to the States from July to November in Los Angeles. After being postponed by COVID for over two years, Sir Elton John has been on the road for so long.

The Doobie Brothers in 1982 released a double album from their Farewell Tour. They're on the road for most of this summer making up postponed shows from 2021 and not to be missed.

New Kids on the Block retired in 1994. They secretly started up again in 2007. Fast forward to 2022 and they are on tour this year until July, an act not to be missed for all those screaming female fans of the 1990’s heartthrobs.

Kiss has been on a perpetual farewell tour called “End of the Road” since 2000. For me as a fan I couldn’t be happier. This farewell has no final date set in stone, fine by me and the millions of fans that love seeing the band live. 2022 will hopefully be just another year in the rock legends calendar of retirement dates.

Brooks & Dunn, a country duo legend, announced their breakup in 2009. In 2010 they performed their "last" gig in Nashville, which was met with tremendous fanfare. Seems like the fanfare is continuing into 2022 as there are more shows to perform to the delight of their fans.

Justin Bieber On Christmas Ev2 2013 announced on Twitter to his massive fanbase that "my beloved Beliebers I'm officially retiring." Justin is back in 2022 with the Justice World Tour, which has new dates and venues as well as replacement dates from 2020 and 2021. This will truly be “Just in Time” for the Beliebers as tickets are selling well and continue to do so.

Motley Crue in an unanimous vote of the band, retired from live concerts in 2014 and signed a "Cessation of Touring" contract and stated at a news conference telling fans to buy tickets for the farewell tour or forever be out of luck. Seems like luck is back on our side of the hard rockers, as the fans of the band are lining up to see their 2022 tour and we are truly grateful.

Plus Def Leppard, Poison, Joan Jett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Crows and other retirees as new tour dates and new tour venues are chosen.

If musical acts want to play and fans want to pay, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but let’s get real and stop the "retirement act" tours. We the fans deserve our time, live with these tremendous shows. As the real story goes, musicians and rock bands need their live audiences as we the fans need our musicians and rock bands to perform live.