Just FYI if you're in the dfw area

[Beachnutt]

wanna bet it's sold out ?

[TexasBushwhacker]

1. I saw him twice during his heyday in the 70s

I watched him perform on the south lawn at the White House, and it was a little sad. He can't hit the high notes anymore and has to compensate. I'm glad he's alive and sober, but I won't be seeing him in Houston. I'm not a fan of stadium shows anyway.

[SergeStorms]

2. Is this anything like....

The Eagles, "Hell Freezes Over" tour?

One thing I've noticed about Rock/Pop Stars, they don't always stick to their "Farewell" tour promises.

If I was in the DFW area I'd be there in a heartbeat. He's one terrific showman.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Was "Hell Freezes Over" A Farewell Tour?

I thought it more a reunion tour nobody ever expected to happen.
They didn't do a farewell tour prior. Everybody just got tired of Henley & Frey and the band fell apart.
This thing with Elton, though, I think is it.
I can see the occasional cabaret type performances. Small room, unannounced or announced only hours ahead, low ticket prices.
But, I think he's done with cavernous venues & giant production.

[SergeStorms]

4. You're correct.

It was another tour after their absolute, final, never again, farewell tour (I believe they did do one).

As far as Henley and Frey, they wrote all the music. Why the rest of the band (except Walsh) thought they should get equal shares is beyond me.

Reg is getting a little long in the tooth to do too many more tours. It's too physically demanding for him. But then there are The Stones........

[ProfessorGAC]

5. The Money Thing Differs

Some bands are wholly egalitarian. The Sweet, The Fixx, INXS are examples.
Others share all revenues as a group, but writer royalties aren't split up. (Beatles, Stones, Who)
Others (Fleetwood Mac, for instance) act like the above but add in % of gross revenues (points) for production & arrangement, and Buckingham did both for them. He got much richer that Fleetwood or McVie, somewhat more than Christine or Stevie. Mick & John needed touring because they got the full 1/5th share of that.
Others (like later Kiss) had 2 guys getting profits while other members get a salary.
It's a broad mix, and the Eagles consisted of guys that came up before the biz became BUSINESS.
Since no contractual agreement was set up, they assumed the original egalitarian model.
That disconnect has created giant rifts in many great bands.
Just one of the pitfalls of the music biz.

[Sky Jewels]

7. When I was in high school in *Uncle Rico voice* 1982, I rushed out to get tickets

to see The Who's "farewell tour." Forty years later ... they're still ticking around.

The best thing about that concert was that the freaking CLASH opened for them! So glad I saw them live.

[SergeStorms]

8. I saw that tour in Toronto....

and Joe Jackson opened for them. That happens all the time though. Some bands have other contractual obligations and don't do the entire tour.

It wouldn't have mattered who opened for them. About 2 hours before the concert started I ate 3 grams of black Lebanese hash. 😳 I really don't remember much about what happened that day.

[Sky Jewels]

9. ...

[uponit7771]

6. I was in Atlanta when he played last weekend, sold out and wishing I was at the concert

[DFW]

10. I saw first on July 4, 1976

The Bicentennial of Jefferson's most famous document.

I then saw him here in Düsseldorf decades later when he was supposed to be doing the two man pianists tour with Billy Joel. Billy Joel had to go into alcohol rehab just before the tour, and ticket holders were offered the option of refunds or an Elton John concert. We opted for the concert, which was fabulous (of course). As a tribute, his final number was Billy Joel's "Piano Man." He really is a prince of a guy.

At his age, I don't blame him for retiring. Having said that, I wouldn't blame him if he got bored, thought his decision was the wrong one, and went out back on the road again. It's not just the money: beloved musicians never tire of having 100,000 people roar their approval just one more time.