Famous Final (or Not-So-Final) Concerts

Final concerts aren’t always announced beforehand. Sometimes, they’re not even final at all. For proof, check out the following chronological list exploring some of the biggest farewell shows in rock.

There are planned events from Cream and the Band. There’s also an impromptu attempt to rekindle the musical partnership between the Beatles.

Elton John and Kiss both announced farewell tours, then spent years on the road. Like the Who, who’ve been saying goodbye for decades, fans soon began questioning if they really meant it.

The Who weren’t alone in making surprise returns. For instance, Eric Clapton brought Cream back. For others like the Doors and Jimi Hendrix, death made the prospects of a similar return to the road simply impossible.

Deaths and Disputes Impact Possible Reunions

A thread running through this list involves partial reunions, whether because of death or a falling out. So, some final concerts are simply the last time the classic-era lineup was together. For instance, the Band returned without Robbie Robertson. Similarly, Guns N’ Roses and Lynyrd Skynyrd mounted surprising reunions, but without key members.

Some of these dates were the stuff of legend, while others were just another otherwise unremarkable performance that took on greater meaning when a band broke up or the fates intervened. Either way, here’s a look back at some of rock’s most memorable final – and sometimes not-so-final – concerts: