After 60 years as one of music’s finest singer/songwriters, it seems that Paul Simon looks set to perform one last show before he calls it quits, if a recent concert announcement is to be believed.
Yes, fresh from a week which saw both Neil Diamond and Elton John announce their respective retirements from the world of touring, Paul Simon now seems to be joining them.
As Pitchfork reports, Paul Simon has recently announced a show in London this July, his only scheduled performance for the year.
Titled Homeward Bound: The Farewell Performance, the 76-year-old musician is set to be joined by musical icons such as James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt for the evening.
As Rolling Stone note, an interview with The New York Times in 2016 saw Paul Simon offer his thoughts on retirement, stating “Showbiz doesn’t hold any interest for me.
“I am going to see what happens if I let go,” he continued. “Then I’m going to see, who am I? Or am I just this person that was defined by what I did? And if that’s gone, if you have to make up yourself, who are you?”
Paul Simon first rose to prominence back in the ’60s as one half of the highly-influential folk duo Simon & Garfunkel with singer Art Garfunkel. Simon launched a solo career in the same decade, which has seen him release critically-acclaimed albums such as 1986’s Graceland, which saw him team up with numerous African musicians and sold 16 million copies.
Over the years, Paul Simon has toyed with the idea of retirement, most notably in 1993, which saw him reunite for Art Garfunkel for a series of “farewell” shows, which of course, resulted in more touring. So understandably, fans are reacting to this news with a little bit of caution.
At this stage, Simon has not made any official statement as to his future in music, so it’s a little bit of guesswork as to whether or not this will be the final time he performs live. Either way, we’re certain that his upcoming London show will certainly be a rather special affair.
Check out Paul Simon’s ‘Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard’:
