The move comes nine months after he contracted a “rare and potentially deadly” bacterial infection in South America that forced him to cancel a series of shows. John spent two days in intensive care and nearly two weeks in the hospital. “I am so fortunate to have the most incredible and loyal fans and apologize for disappointing them,” he said afterward in a statement. “I am extremely grateful to the medical team for their excellence in looking after me so well.”
The Hall of Fame musician resumed his tour in early June, with his husband/manager David Furnish indicating that John had no plans to stop. “Without question, Elton must never stop performing,” he said. “We all have things that kind of keep us alive in life. Some people relish the idea of a retirement where they do nothing [but] for Elton that would be purgatory. Playing to live audiences is going to be something he always needs to do.” At Wednesday’s event, however, John dismissed reports earlier in the day that he was retiring because of ill health.
This isn’t the first time that John announced he was stepping away from live performing. “I’ve made a decision tonight that this is going to be the last show,” he told a stunned crowd during a 1977 show in London. “There’s a lot more to me than playing on the road and this is the last one I’m going to do.” He was back performing two years later and continued to tour at a punishing rate. Over the past 20 years, he’s played upwards of 133 shows a year that he balances between his residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and arenas and stadiums around the world.
Three years ago, John began discussing finally slowing down to spend more time with his young family. “I’ve had lots of time off with my children, and it’s all got to change now that [my son] Zachary is starting school,” he told Rolling Stone. “I’ve got to be off when half-term comes. And I am planning on cutting down my shows to be with my children because that’s what I really love.”