Singing sensation Sir Rod Stewart has no doubt left fans in a state of shock after he announced that he wants to retire from “rock ‘n’ roll touring”, revealing that he wants “to do something new”.
The 77-year-old made the bombshell revelation during a recent interview with the Daily Record where he announced that although he wants to move away from touring he is not planning on retiring altogether anytime soon.
“Next year will be the end of my rock ‘n’ roll touring. I want to do something different. It feels like an end of an era,” he said.
“All things must come to an end.
“I’m not retiring and I still love singing, I just want to do something new. I might do a few folk clubs playing guitar. Just be different.”
Stewart opened up about how performing in the “big tours” had lost its appeal for the Maggie May hitmaker as it keeps him away from his children.
“I don’t want to do the big tours any more, especially in America. It takes me away from my kids for so long,” he said.
“It used to be OK because it was fun and games. It is still fun and games but I miss my kids so much.
“I’ve got one more year doing big gigs in South America, Australia, a Las Vegas residency, some more in England and a couple in Edinburgh.
“But I’m not retiring – I just want to move on.”
Stewart isn’t the only singing superstar taking a step back from the rigours of live tours after legendary country singer Dolly Parton announced that she was also officially taking a step back from the hustle and bustle of her live tours.
The 76-year-old entertainment icon revealed to Pollstar Magazine she has “no intention” of going on tour anymore.
“I’ve done that my whole life, and it takes so much time and energy,” she told the publication.
The Jolene singer also cited wanting to spend more time with loved ones as the reason for drawing the curtain on her touring days, explaining that she would like to spend more time with her husband, Carl Dean, rather than spend so many days on the road.
“We’re getting older now, and I don’t want to be gone for four or five weeks at a time,” Parton said.
“Something could happen. I would not feel right about that, if I were gone and somebody needed me. Or I would feel bad if I had to leave a tour if somebody got sick at home and needed me and then I had to walk out on the fans.”