Sir Rod Stewart announces final encore tour for next year
Sir Rod Stewart, 81, has announced his final rock and roll tour for next year, starting in Dublin on 23 April and ending in Germany in July, weeks after heart surgery.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Sir Rod Stewart has announced that his final tour will take place next year. The 81-year-old singer said the run, called the final encore tour, will be his last rock and roll tour. He stressed that he is not retiring from music.
The tour is due to begin on 23 April next year in Dublin. It will then visit five cities in the UK before moving on to the rest of Europe. The final date is expected towards the end of July in Germany. Tickets go on sale later this week. In a message to fans, Stewart said: 'I'm not retiring, but this will be the last rock and roll tour. So I want to thank you for everything you've given me, and hopefully I've given you something in return. So... Please come out and see me on the tour! It's going to be great!'
Stewart said he made the decision after much deliberation and sadness. He has had a difficult period with his health. He had to cut short a North American tour to have a heart operation, and earlier this year he postponed some shows because of laryngitis. He promised to be back with 'one hell of a show'.
His career includes 25 top 10 singles and 11 number one albums, and he has been performing since he was 19. His decision follows other artists such as Elton John, Phil Collins and Aerosmith in stepping back from touring, though some still release music and play occasional shows. Demand for the final encore tour is expected to be high.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | ITV |
|---|---|---|
| Rod Stewart said his final tour, beginning in April with UK and European dates, will be his last rock and roll tour and that he is not retiring. | ||
| The Final Encore tour is scheduled to start in April next year, beginning on 23 April in Dublin. | ||
| The Final Encore tour will visit five UK cities and other parts of Europe, concluding in Germany towards the end of July. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The lunchtime bulletin treated the story as a short final item, focusing on the announcement, Stewart's health and the broad timing of the tour. It did not give the exact start date, city itinerary or ticket sale details. The tone was brief and upbeat, ending with his promise of 'one hell of a show'.
- “Finally, Sir Rod Stewart has announced his final tour will happen next year.”
- “Ladies and gentlemen, after much liberation and sadness, I have to announce this year. Next year will be my last tour ever, ever, ever. I'm not retiring, but this will be the last rock and roll tour.”
- “The 81-year-old singer recently had to cut short a US tour after a heart operation, but he is promising to be back with one hell of a show, in his words.”
The evening news gave the story a fuller treatment, with an entertainment reporter walking through the tour schedule, health history, chart record and likely ticket demand. It framed the announcement as a farewell to touring rather than a retirement from music, and placed it in the context of other veteran acts who have stopped touring. The tone was informative and slightly reflective.
- “Sir Rod Stewart has announced his farewell tour, saying it will most definitely be his last.”
- “Well, we know that the final encore tour will begin on the 23rd of April next year in Dublin and Ireland, before heading to the UK, where it's hitting five different cities, before then going on to the rest of Europe, where it will conclude towards the end of July in Germany.”
- “I think demand for Rod Stewart's final encore tour is going to be very high when tickets go on sale later this week.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 19:18 BST
“I'm not retiring, but this will be the last rock and roll tour.”
ITV Evening News · Mon 28 Sept
- 12:47 BST
Sir Rod Stewart, singer
“Next year will be my last tour ever, ever, ever.”
5 News at Lunchtime · Mon 28 Sept
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.