After performing over three thousand concerts in over seventy-five different countries since 1970, pop/rock/fashion icon Elton John is officially retiring from touring, right after he performs roughly another three hundred concerts spread throughout five different continents over the next three years, beginning later this year in Pennsylvania on September 8. John announced his retirement during a New York press conference on January 24, claiming that his two sons are his main reason for stopping his touring. “My priorities have changed,” John explained, “I have young children.” John also clarified he still has creativity left in him and can still put on a show; he just cannot go on touring much longer due to his family and age.

Details about what fans can expect from John’s last tour, called ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’, have recently been released, describing it as “a musical and highly visual journey spanning a fifty-year career of hits like no one has ever seen before.” It is no doubt that John wants to finish his touring career strong with more original and innovative concerts than he has ever performed. “I don’t want to go out with a whimper,” says John, “I want to go out with a bang… It’ll be the most produced, fantastic show I’ve ever done.”

As one of pop culture’s most long-lasting performers, touring for roughly half a century now, Elton John will surely be missed after his tour is wrapped up in 2021. Unfortunately, Elton John will only play one show in NC during his farewell tour, which will be at the PNC Arena in Raleigh on March 12, 2019.  Tickets for the show will be available for purchase starting February 16, 2018.  If you are a fan of the pop/rock legend, you may want to consider buying tickets for the Rocket Man’s final go at the tour life as it will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is surely going to rock the house.