The first step for artists sunsetting their musical careers: retiring from the touring circuit. In 2018, Paul Simon and Joan Baez both made stops in Portland on their way to the finish line, and this year, KISS and Bob Seger will do the same. As much as fans will likely feel the absence of those artists, their impact won’t be as immense as when Sir Elton John bids farewell to his fans in 2021.
This time last year, the 71-year-old singer/songwriter announced his own retirement as a touring act, with plans to spend the next three years slowly moving across the globe for one last run of shows, including a final appearance in our fair city at Moda Center on January 12. John’s reasoning is sound; he wants to spend more time with his husband and young sons. And we’ve likely not heard the last of him, as he has promised to keep making new music even if he doesn’t run the promotional gauntlet.