Lulu makes shock retirement announcement after 60 years in music
She's known for a number of hits
Lulu, the singer behind hits such as 'The Boat That I Row', 'Boom Bang-a-Bang', and 'Relight My Fire' with Take That, has announced she will be retiring. The 75-year-old has been in the music industry for 60 years, releasing her debut song 'Shout' in 1964, when she was just 15-years-old.
Lulu is set to take the the stage for a her final tour this year, when she will be performing a series of dates, ending at the London Palladium on 17th April. Announcing the news in a podcast, the singer said: "This is actually - I’m announcing it for the first time now - this is my farewell tour, with family, and friends."
Speaking to Gyles Brandreth on his Rosebud podcast, Lulu continued: "Because last year I did a tour that was kind of gruelling - it was successful, it went well - but you need an army to be a success in your career these days.
"And I felt unsupported. But then I turned 75, and I thought, 'You know what, I want to carry on working, but I want to do it a different way’."
She went on to say: "I've learned. And I've also become a slightly different person. I'm not afraid to be vulnerable."
The 'Champagne For Lulu' tour will draw to a close the singer's amazing career, and as Lulu teased, she has some surprises for her fans. "I'm not going to tell you exactly what I'm going to do, but of course I'll have to do 'Boom Bang-a-Bang'," she explained.
"The audience want to do it by themselves anyway. You can't not give people what they want - and more. If you've ever seen me on tour, just let me say, you won't have seen me like this."
Despite finding fame at just 15, Lulu has continued to be successful in the music industry, without taking a break.
Good luck with your retirement Lulu!
Take a look through tours coming up this year:
ABBA - 'ABBA Voyage'
ABBA's virtual tour 'ABBA Voyage' started in May 2022. The tour sees the ABBA avatars accompanied by a 10-piece live band, all taking place in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.
The shows were due to run until October 2022, but due popular demand from fans, they will now run until 2026.
Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry announced their 40th anniversary tour which is taking place in October and November 2024. The band, consisting of brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane, are best-known for their hits 'Labour of Love' and 'Looking For Linda'.
Lightning Seeds
Liverpudlian serial hitmakers the Lightning Seeds are celebrating their 35th anniversary in 2024 with an extensive UK & Ireland tour, taking place across November and December 2024.
The Human League
The Human League, Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Anne Sulley, will perform eight huge arena shows in the run-up to Christmas 2024 on the 'Generations 2024 tour'. They will be supported on all dates by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and T'Pau.
Wet Wet Wet with special guest Heather Small - 2025
Wet Wet Wet have announced they will be going on touch in 2025 with special guest Heather Small. The band will be touring in January, February and October 2025.
Jason Donovan - 2025
Jason Donovan has announced a huge tour for 2025 to celebrate 35 years in entertainment. Shows begin in February 2025, running through to the end of March.
Mike + The Mechanics - 2025
Mike + The Mechanics have announced their 'Looking Back - Living The Years 2025 Tour', performing across the country in March and April 2025, including dates in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham, before finishing in London at the Royal Albert Hall.
Alison Moyet - 2025
Known for her solo hits 'All Cried Out', 'Is This Love?' and 'Love Letters', Alison Moyet will be taking her hits on the road in 2025. The singer will start in Dublin on 16th February 2025, before performing across the UK, ending in Aberdeen on 22nd March.
Cyndi Lauper - 2025
Cyndi Lauper has announced four UK dates for her 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour', due to take place in February 2025.
Toto - 2025
Toto, the band behind hits such as 'Africa' and 'Rosanna', will grace the UK early in 2025 for a headline arena tour.
Opening at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Saturday 1st February, Toto play Birmingham BP Pulse Live (Sun 2nd Feb), Manchester AO Arena (Tue 4th February) and London OVO Arena Wembley (Thu 6th Feb) on the short trek.
Kim Wilde - 2025
'Kids in America' singer, Kim Wilde, has announced a brand new tour for 2025 - shortly after the release of her 15th studio album, 'Closer'. The UK leg of the tour, of the same name, will kick off in Birmingham on 14th March - and will span nine dates, including in London, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Gabrielle - 2025
Gabrielle has announced a tour for 2025 called 'A Place In Your Heart'. The singer will be playing 10 UK dates, starting in Glasgow on 2nd April 2025, playing at locations such as Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, and more before ending in Bournemouth on 19th April 2025.
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue has announced her latest tour will be called 'The Tension Tour' and will take place in the UK throughout May 2025. Speaking about her tour, Kylie said: "I am beyond excited to announce the TENSION TOUR 2025. I can't wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more! It's been an exhilarating ride so far and now, get ready for your close up because I will be calling Lights, Camera, Action … and there will be a whole lot of Padaming!"
Bryan Adams
Chart-slaying Canadian rocker Bryan Adams has announced a nine-date UK arena tour. Part of the 'Roll With The Punches' world tour, Bryan Adams' headline trek opens at Newcastle Utilita Arena on Thursday 8th May 2025 and visits Manchester, Leeds, Aberdeen, Glasgow, London, Liverpool and Nottingham before concluding at Birmingham bp pulse LIVE on Sunday 18th May 2025.
Holly Johnson - 2025
Holly Johnson will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's debut album 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome' with a June 2025 UK tour.
Opening at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday 6th June, Holly Johnson visits London, Bath, Newcastle and Glasgow before culminating with a massive homecoming show at Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 21st June.
Billy Joel - 2025
'Piano Man' Billy Joel has announced two UK dates for 2025. The singer will be performing in Liverpool and Edinburgh, making it the first time in more than 45 years that he'll be playing in those cities! He will be performing in Edinburgh on Saturday 7th June, and Liverpool on Saturday 21st June 2025.
Billy Ocean - 2025
Billy Ocean will start his UK tour in Manchester at the O2 Apollo on Wednesday 4th June 2025, before travelling across England, Scotland and Wales, ending his tour on 30th June in Nottingham, and the Royal Concert Hall.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have announced a trio of concerts for May and June 2025. The Boss and his legendary band will kick off their short run of shows with two nights at Manchester's Co-op Live on Saturday 17th and Tuesday 20th May 2025.
They will then play an outdoor concert at Liverpool Anfield Stadium on Wednesday 4th June 2025.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie has announced several UK dates as part of his 'Say Hello To The Hits' 2025 tour. Starting in Glasgow's OVO Hydro on Wednesday 4th June, before travelling to London, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester, Lionel has already added extra dates to his tour before it went on general sale.
Sting - 2025
Sting announces UK dates for his 'Sting 3.0' world tour. The tour sees the singer enter a new 'dynamic era', showcasing some songs from his huge back catalogue. On tour, Sting performs as part of a trio, with Sting on vocals and bass, Dominic Miller playing guitar and Chris Maas on drums.
Simple Minds
Scottish band Simple Minds have now announced a series of 2025 shows taking place at several festivals and outdoor locations, including Live At The Piece Hall, Halifax and Lincoln Castle, taking place in June and July 2025.
Oasis - 2025
Oasis have reunited and now announced a UK tour taking place in July and August 2025, performing in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
Simply Red - 2025
Simply Red have announced they will be going on tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2025. The band will be performing 12 gigs in September and October 2025.
Marti Pellow
Marti Pellow has announced he will be going on an arena tour in 2025 to celebrate 30 years of his iconic song 'Love Is All Around', which he released when he was part of Wet Wet Wet, back in 1994.
Speaking about the tour and the upcoming announcement, Marti said: "To think it's been 30 years since 'Love Is All Around' became such a huge part of my life is amazing. It's not just my song – it belongs to the fans. Celebrating this milestone with them is going to be incredibly special. And I've got something exciting planned around the song itself – I can't wait to share more soon!"
Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard has announced six UK dates as part of his 'Can't Stop Me Now' tour, which will see him perform across Australia, New Zealand and the UK in November and December 2025.
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