‘I want to go out with a bang’: Elton John announces final Australia tour

Singing sensation Elton John will take to the stage for the final time in Australia later this year as part of his farewell tour.

The much-loved performer had Australians sining to their hearts content on Sunday after announcing he would visit the Land Down Under once again.

In a post shared on Facebook by promoter Chugg Entertainment, it was confirmed the 71-year-old will travel to the country in November, performing at a number of locations across Australia before heading down to New Zealand.

“It’s official! Elton John is doing one last tour of Australia and New Zealand before he retires, starting in November this year, across 18 shows!” the post read. “This is going to be MASSIVE!”

Elton will first bless Australians with his beautiful voice in Perth on his epic Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, singing hits such as ‘Bennie and the Jets’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Tiny Dancer’ and ‘Crocodile Rock’.

From there, the English singer will move east to Adelaide and Melbourne and then up to Brisbane and Sydney.

He will also take to the stage in the Hunter Valley, Mount Cotton for a Day on the Green, Woodend, Wahgunyah and the Yarra Valley.

“I’m ecstatic and humbled to continue to play for audiences across the globe,” he said in a statement on the Chugg Entertainment website.

“I plan to bring my final tour the passion and creativity that has entertained my fans for decades… It’s the most produced and fantastic show I’ve ever done. I want to go out with a bang.”

Speaking to the Herald Sun following the exciting announcement, Elton’s longtime promoter Michael Chugg said the singer is thrilled to be returning to Australia one last time to perform before he enters retirement.

“Elton’s continuing love affair with Australia knows no bounds, proven by this farewell tour and the breadth and depth of the itinerary, showing his commitment to his many Australian fans,” he told the publication.

The talented singer has been on the road since September last year, with the first show of his tour in Pennsylvania. He is expected to play up to 300 shows around the world over the course of the final tour.

The latest announcement follows Elton’s involvement in a festive advertisement by British department store John Lewis.

The advert begins in the present day with Elton sitting on a chair playing a piano by his Christmas tree. It then works backwards chronologically through the singer’s life, from his performances on stage in front of thousands to his first time in a recording studio and right back to his childhood when he first performed in front of a crowd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=mNbSgMEZ_Tw

However, the truly emotional part is when a young Elton is seen opening a special present on Christmas morning – his grandmother’s piano. While to some this may have been just a present, it was this gift that led the now 71-year-old down the path to become a musician.

Read more: Heartwarming Christmas ad starring Elton John sends fans wild

The advert is then summed up with one important and touching message: “Some gifts are more than just a gift”.

Are you a fan of Elton John? Do you plan on going to one of his shows?