# Biggest music act “retirement ripoff” ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2020, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840 "2020-01-03T07:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/1 "2020-01-03T07:00:20Z")
Not in any order but I nominate: Motley Crue- claimed a few years back that they testified in court and signed an affidavit they were on their last tour. 2020? Not only touring, but HEADLINING A STADIUM tour with Def Leppard and Poison! Ozzy Osbourne- I attended his “No More Tours” show in 1992. During which he announced he was not retiring. . . . . . In 2018 attended another Ozzy concert, 26 years after he put on his “retirement” concert. And even THIS one was advertised as a “final” tour! Lynyrd Skynyrd- Not only are they advertising a “retirement” tour, but I think there might be only one original member of the band in the lineup. You know the fake version of the band will be back. The Band- They sure cashed in on a movie based on their last concert——then partially reunited a few years later! Other bands that have recently advertised or implied “final” tours, some more than once include: KISS, The Who, Elton John, Doobie Brothers and more. Don’t get this twisted: I was happy to see Ozzy again. But you can’t ignore the cynicism of artists taking advantage of their fans for the almighty dollar. Who do you think was the biggest retirement ripoff in rock history??? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/2 "2020-01-03T16:33:56Z")
How many times have the Rolling Stones retired? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/3 "2020-01-03T17:56:42Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Motley Crue- claimed a few years back that they testified in court and signed an affidavit they were on their last tour. This is hilarious. How on earth would that come up in court? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/4 "2020-01-03T18:22:31Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > How many times have the Rolling Stones retired? I remember seeing an episode of “Babylon 5” where, on those screens that list upcoming events for arriving passengers, one of them listed “Rolling Stones Farewell Tour”. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/5 "2020-01-03T18:37:36Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > This is hilarious. How on earth would that come up in court? It could be claimed that people suffered financial loss because they spent extra to see their favorite band one last time. Maybe they paid extra for the tickets and had higher travel costs since they thought it was going to be their last chance forever. But then when the band keeps touring, the people may feel they’ve been defrauded since they didn’t need to pay that premium. If it could be proved that the band fraudulently said it was their final tour just for the boost in ticket prices, then I would think they could be sued. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/6 "2020-01-03T18:40:45Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I remember seeing an episode of “Babylon 5” where, on those screens that list upcoming events for arriving passengers, one of them listed “Rolling Stones Farewell Tour”. Priceless! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/7 "2020-01-03T18:40:59Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Not in any order but I nominate: > > Lynyrd Skynyrd- Not only are they advertising a “retirement” tour, but I think there might be only one original member of the band in the lineup. You know the fake version of the band will be back. Not sure. I recall hearing something about any band (claiming to be LS, not ‘any band’) being legally prohibited to use the name unless there are at least two ‘original’ members (that one guy left early on to play with Black Snake Arkansas, or something like that, but he is technically an ‘original’ member). Everybody else is pretty much dead. Who else is left? Rossington and Pyle? I’d have to look it up to be sure, but I’m far too lazy for that. But, yeah. That is a retirement rip-off, right up there with The Who. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/8 "2020-01-03T18:52:49Z")
On the other end of the spectrum, it is rumoured that ABBA turned down $1 billion to go on a world tour. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/9 "2020-01-03T18:57:02Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > ….that one guy left early on to play with Black Snake Arkansas, or something like that, but he is technically an ‘original’ member… Okay, I botched that. I swear I ain’t drinkin’, yet. **Ricky Medlocke** , who left and went on to be frontman for **Blackfoot** , is also considered an _original member_, and that is how they are able to continue touring under the name Skynyrd is how I understood it from the show I saw on them. I could be wrong. I am so often, it don’t even faze me anymore. I almost expect it. Now I’ll start drinkin’. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/10 "2020-01-03T19:03:18Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > On the other end of the spectrum, it is rumoured that ABBA turned down $1 billion to go on a world tour. Being from Sweden, they’d only get to keep $40. Tax rate is 7300%. (I kid. Sorta.) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/11 "2020-01-03T19:04:16Z")
In 1982 the Who said it was their first retirement tour. They were correct, they are still touring now. But I don’t have a problem with them continuing to tour. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/12 "2020-01-03T19:07:14Z")
Motley Crue signed a “cessation of touring contract,” saying that they want to leave a legacy: From [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/motley-crue-sign-cessation-of-touring-contract-2014-914478/): They did talk about their pledge to never tour again on several occasions. “If we did agree [to another tour], the way we’ve set it up — including this conversation right now — we’d have so much egg on our face,” Sixx told Rolling Stone. “We have so much pride that that alone would stop it.” And [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jan/29/motley-crue-sign-death-pact-retirement): [T]he four members will go their separate ways when The Final Tour is over. If they do not, they can apparently be sued - though it’s not clear by whom. So face, meet egg. That’s rock ‘n’ roll, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/13 "2020-01-03T19:09:43Z")
If you don’t like the music don’t go to the concert or buy the music. Why do people care if they retire and then come back? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/14 "2020-01-03T19:14:31Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Okay, I botched that. I swear I ain’t drinkin’, yet. > > **Ricky Medlocke** , who left and went on to be frontman for **Blackfoot** , is also considered an _original member_, and that is how they are able to continue touring under the name Skynyrd is how I understood it from the show I saw on them. I could be wrong. I am so often, it don’t even faze me anymore. I almost expect it. > > Now I’ll start drinkin’. That proviso has been relaxed in the following years due to lineup changes and natural attrition and is no longer enforced. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/15 "2020-01-03T19:17:20Z")
there are 50s groups with no original members that still tour. Don’t have a problem with that either. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/16 "2020-01-03T19:17:35Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > It could be claimed that people suffered financial loss because they spent extra to see their favorite band one last time. Maybe they paid extra for the tickets and had higher travel costs since they thought it was going to be their last chance forever. But then when the band keeps touring, the people may feel they’ve been defrauded since they didn’t need to pay that premium. If it could be proved that the band fraudulently said it was their final tour just for the boost in ticket prices, then I would think they could be sued. Sure, but that’d all be after the fact, right? Like, you could sue a band for that when they started their _next_ tour, but how would they get into court to assert that the current tour really is their last one? I guess maybe they’ve pulled this before and someone sued them over the previous tour? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/17 "2020-01-03T19:20:02Z")
Suing a band over a tour may be legal but it’s really dumb. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/18 "2020-01-03T19:52:29Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > How many times have the Rolling Stones retired? As far as I know, never. There have been certainly rumors of the Stones making their final tour since at least the early eighties, but I’ve never heard a word about retiring from Mick or Keith themselves ever. Or do you have any cites? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/19 "2020-01-03T19:58:00Z")
Deep Purple, OTHOH, are a perfect example for this thread. They went on their farewell tour in 2016 and each year since then extended it into the next year. It is even known as [the Long Goodbye Tour.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Goodbye_Tour) ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840/20 "2020-01-03T23:16:49Z")
Kiss had a farewell tour in 2000, but it turned out to be an inside joke and the “farewell” was to Peter and Ace, not touring. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-music-act-retirement-ripoff-ever/845840.md?page=2)