Jessica Gilbert/Courtesy of Legacy Recordings
After booking a show in London that was advertised as a “farewell” show, Paul Simon has now confirmed that he’ll be retiring from the road after one more tour, kicking off May 16 in Vancouver, Canada.
Homeward Bound — The Farewell tour will visit North America, the U.K. and Europe before wrapping up July 15 with a show in London’s Hyde Park. As previously reported, that concert also will feature James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt. Raitt and Taylor will be part of Simon’s July 13 show in Ireland as well.
In a statement to fans, Simon says, “I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to reach the point where I’d consider bringing my performing career to a natural end. Now I know: it feels a little unsettling, a touch exhilarating, and something of a relief.”
He continues, “I love making music, my voice is still strong, and my band is a tight, extraordinary group of gifted musicians. I think about music constantly. Sadly, we lost our lead guitarist and my friend of 30 years, Vincent N’guini, who died last December. His loss is not the only reason I’ve decided to stop touring, but it is a contributing factor. Mostly, though, I feel the travel and time away from my wife and family takes a toll that detracts from the joy of playing.”
Simon adds, “I’d like to leave with a big Thank You to the many folks around the world who’ve come out to watch me play over the last 50 years. After this coming tour, I anticipate doing the occasional performance in a (hopefully) acoustically pristine hall, and to donate those earnings to various philanthropic organizations, particularly those whose objective is to save the planet, ecologically.”
He concludes, “Once again, I am very grateful for a fulfilling career and, of course, most of all to the audiences who heard something in my music that touched their hearts.”
Tickets for the tour go on sale February 8 at 9 a.m. in Europe and February 9 at 10 a.m. in North America and the U.K. Visit PaulSimon.com for ticket information.
Simon is the third Rock & Roll Hall of Famer to announce his retirement from touring this year, following Elton John and Neil Diamond.
Here are the tour dates:
5/16 — Vancouver, BC, Canada, Rogers Arena
5/18 — Seattle, WA, Key Arena
5/19 — Portland, OR, MODA Center
5/22 — Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Bowl
5/23 — Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Bowl
5/25 — Oakland, CA, Oracle Arena
5/27 — Las Vegas, NV, MGM Grand Garden Arena
5/30 — Denver, CO, Fiddler’s Green
6/1 — Dallas, TX, American Airlines Arena
6/2 — Houston, TX, Toyota Center
6/4 — Austin, TX, Frank Erwin Center
6/6 — Chicago, IL, United Center
6/8 — St. Paul, MN, Xcel Energy Center
6/10 — Detroit, MI, DTE Energy Center
6/12 — Toronto, ON, Canada, Air Canada Centre
6/13 — Montreal, QC, Canada, Bell Centre
6/15 — Boston, MA, TD Garden
6/16 — Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center
6/19 — Greensboro, NC, Greensboro Coliseum
6/20 — Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena
6/30 — Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson Globe
7/1 — Oslo, Norway, Spektrum
7/3 — Copenhagen, Denmark, Royal Arena
7/5 — Antwerp, Belgium, Sportpaleis
7/7 — Amsterdam, Holland, Ziggo Dome
7/10 — Manchester, UK, Manchester Arena
7/11 — Glasgow, UK, SSE Hydro
7/13 — Dublin, Ireland, RDS Arena*
7/15 — London, UK, Hyde Park – BST Festival*
* = with Very Special Guests James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt.
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