Tag Archives: farewell tours

Features, Tours and Festivals

Ozzy Osbourne To Celebrate Five Decades Of Performing With Farewell World Tour

Leave a comment

Well it seems as though the Metal world will have to come to terms with the eventual retirement of one of its most legendary figures as the great Ozzy Osbourne has recently announced his for real this time “Farewell Tour”. I say it like that since Ozzy has had a couple of these go rounds already but no one is complaining here. As readers and the rest of the Metal world knows, Black Sabbath closed the book on its career earlier in the year and that final show can be enjoyed on a video release called “The End” which will come out in a couple of weeks. As soon as I get that I will toss a review together. Please stay tuned and now let’s get into the full press release about the final tour.

The Press Release:
Five decades. 18,262 days. More than 2,500 shows.

On his upcoming farewell world tour, OZZY OSBOURNE–Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy® winning singer and songwriter–will celebrate more than five decades as a performer (both as a solo artist and as lead singer of Black Sabbath which formed in 1968). This tour, expected to take OZZY around the world with dates into 2020, will mark the end of global touring for the legendary artist, though he will continue to perform select live shows.

“People keep asking me when I’m retiring,” OZZY says. “This will be my final world tour, but I can’t say I won’t do some shows here and there.”

black sabbath, black sabbath concert photos, the end tour
Black Sabbath by Ken Pierce (2016)

Continue reading Ozzy Osbourne To Celebrate Five Decades Of Performing With Farewell World Tour →

Features, Tours and Festivals

HIM Announces “Farewell Tour”; Love Metal Legends Hitting The Road For The Last Time

Leave a comment

Now this is news that brings me great sadness as the music of HIM in concert was truly something that I have enjoyed since first deciding to try my skills at being a music scribe. The statement below comes from the bands Official Facebook Page and delineates their first stages as they call it a career. Read on.

The Facebook Post:
Following a long radio silence, Finnish rock giants HIM have announced a farewell tour, closing the final chapter on their 26 year career.

“After quarter of a century of Love and Metal intertwined we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored. We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you.” Says frontman Ville Valo

Formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindström and bassist Mikko “Migé” Paananen, HIM truly stand out as one of the rock world’s most unique acts. Beautifully blending metal, goth and hard rock with deep, thoughtful and moving lyrics, HIM offered the world a new take on the metal genre, which became known as Love Metal (also the title of their fourth album).

him, him concert photos, ville valo, ville valo concert photos

Over the course of eight studio albums, HIM captured the hearts and minds of fans across the globe, drawn by their irresistible and inimitable style. Under the banner of their Heartagram logo – a potent symbol encapsulating the juxtaposition of the light and dark, the fierce and forlorn, and the evil and love found in their music – HIM filled venues and crashed charts the world over, collecting numerous awards, gracing countless magazine covers and becoming the first Finnish act to achieve Gold status in the USA.
Continue reading HIM Announces “Farewell Tour”; Love Metal Legends Hitting The Road For The Last Time →

Features, Tours and Festivals

Rhapsody Announces 20th Anniversary Reunion and Farewell Tour

Leave a comment

When Rhapsody chose to split into two separate musical entities I myself was a bit torn since I loved the power and the majesty that their music brought to life and instead of choosing sides, I opted to support both sides of the fence and view it as the chance to come home with twice as much Cinematic Metal music. Each side brought an interesting vibe to the Power Metal table and now the time has come for reunion but before you sharpen your sword for the rallying victorious battle, please know that this news comes with you needing to find a place to store your armor and a place to stable your trusty steed as this is also a Farewell Tour. The prophets spoke of this from translations found on ancient scrolls and now the time is drawing near for an ending. The full press release and some artwork are below but no dates have been revealed at the point of this posting.

Fabio Lione, Luca Turilli, Dominique Leurquin, Patrice Guers and Alex Holzwarth proudly announce the reunion of the original members of RHAPSODY, and the relevant farewell tour of the band.

The Italian band Rhapsody, one of the greatest icons of Symphonic Power Metal, will gather together to commemorate the 20th Anniversary from their first official release, playing their album “Symphony Of Enchanted Lands” in full, as well as other classics of the band. It will be an exciting and emotional event no one should ever miss, as this will be the only and last chance to see the band performing on stage together. The Rhapsody’s 20th Anniversary Farewell Tour will be hosted by Top Link Music.

Since its consecration in 1997 with the album “Legendary Tales”, Rhapsody has become a worldwide awarded band thanks to its unique, epic and orchestral sound. Initially baptized in the “Hollywood Metal” style, because of its movies-related fascination and its characteristic epic soundtrack elements, the Italian band established itself as one of the biggest names in Symphonic Power Metal thanks to their second release “Symphony Of Enchanted Lands”, which soon became a classic of that music genre. Rhapsody’s main influences also include classical composers such as Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, Paganini and many others (the song “The Wizard’s Last Rhymes” from Rain Of A Thousand Flames, for example, is based on Antonín Dvořák’s “New World Symphony”). These elements made the band clearly unique in the whole heavy metal scene and, thanks to its magic, gathered lots of fans all over the world and inspired many bands, giving birth to a brand new musical wave and genre, that established a real and effective Rhapsody imagery. The 20th Anniversary Farewell Tour will represent a last chance for everyone to feel part of that wonderful magic once again. Luca, Fabio, Patrice, Dominique and Alex will celebrate such important and historical event with and for their amazing fans!
Continue reading Rhapsody Announces 20th Anniversary Reunion and Farewell Tour →

Features, Tours and Festivals

Manowar Announces “Farewell Tour” In 2016

Leave a comment

Soon it will be time for fans around the world to sheath their swords, hang up their shields and neatly fold their loincloths in the closet never to be used again as the mighty Manowar has just announced a farewell tour that will end with their disbanding. The bands official statement is below the logo so check it out.

Logo - Manowar

Official Statement:
“The Gods And Kings Tour was a groundbreaking moment in our career. The stage, sound, video and you, our fans, were magnificent!
Coming off such an amazing tour it was clear that the next time we must go even bigger and beyond anything we have ever done; something that will fulfill every Manowarrior’s dreams. Then that will be the ultimate moment to say Thank You and farewell!

The Final Battle will begin in Germany and take us all over the world to say goodbye to all of you.

If you know Metal you know MANOWAR. If you know MANOWAR you know Metal!

Those who join this tour will be left with an eternal memory; having witnessed the band that has dedicated their blood, hearts, souls and every moment of their career to True Heavy Metal. We are calling all Manowarriors to prepare yourselves now and to join us for The Final Battle!”
MANOWAR”

PiercingMetal Thoughts: Despite liking so much of their early material I have never, ever before seen Manowar in concert and it was something that I had wanted to do again and again. It just never happened and now I guess for those fans in the USA, we never will. They so rarely toured over in this part of the world and when they did it was at smaller places that left so many Metal Legions out of the mayhem. They also didn’t allow any photography which is why many of you are reading this and saying “wait, so they were here not too long ago?” Sure they say that this farewell tour will take them all over the world but let’s see what the actual itinerary will be when all is mapped out. For NYC they would need to do at least two nights at a place the size of Hammerstein Ballroom to be effective and a proper goodbye to this side of the Metal fence. Like the rest of you I will await their decree with some level of anticipation. What do you readers think of this “Farewell Tour” announcement? Do you think it will be akin to an Ozzy Osbourne or KISS Farewell tour and find the band back after eleven minutes of non-activity or do you think they will do a public display like Motley Crue did and sign legal paperwork in front of the Internet citing their true end? Let me know what you think in the comments section.

Official Website: http://www.manowar.com

Grateful Dead @ Soldier Field

Poster - Grateful Dead - Fare Thee Well 2015

The remaining members of The Grateful Dead are calling it a career after 50 years with three of these “Fare Thee Well” shows. If you can muster a ticket do not miss out on these historic performances. You can also relive the years of The Dead with these two new amazing releases.