After more than 50 years on the road, Elton John has officially retired from touring.
The renowned artist performed his final tour act at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena on Saturday, the final stop on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
“I’ve had the most incredible career, beyond words. How fortunate am I to be able to play music for 52 years?” John, 76, told the audience as he finished his concert with “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
“But, you know, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you. You bought the singles, albums, CDs, and cassettes, but more importantly, you bought the concert tickets, and you know how much I enjoy performing live.”
After the show, the five-time Grammy winner thanked his fans for their unending support spanning more than five decades.
“My fans have been there for me every step of the way.” They’ve remained with me, they’ve supported me, they’ve been patient, and they’ve been coming to every single event,” he stated in a post-show statement, according to Consequence.
“Tonight has been a beautiful night. I’m still processing everything, and I don’t believe it’ll take a while before I’m finally done touring. I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss the fans or how much their love has humbled me – it will live on in my heart forever.”
At one point during the event, the “Tiny Dancer” singer received a special message from Chris Martin, who was performing with his band, Coldplay, in Sweden at the same time.
“Elton, we just wanna say, from all of us here, from all the bands and artists that you’ve loved, inspired, and helped, we just love you so much,” Martin, 46, said in part. “We love you tremendously. Happy retirement and we’ll miss you terribly, dude.”
John, who has been traveling since 1970, took to Instagram earlier Saturday to deliver a poignant message before of the highly anticipated event.
“What a journey this tour has been, and now we find ourselves at the end of it,” he wrote. “Tonight is the final night.”
While John is no longer traveling, he and his management have previously announced that fans can expect to see him perform in some way in the coming years.
“It’s essential to distinguish between Elton retiring from touring and Elton not performing his very last public performance for the very last time,” John’s husband and manager, David Furnish, told Billboard last November.
“I know he will not be touring in any capacity. What you’ll see is the prospect of a spectacular one-time event or a short residency in a single place for a limited time.”
In the interest of the saint, please stop reversing into parking spaces!
Reversing into a parking space often seems like a good idea, but it also comes with some challenges. It can be difficult to judge the space required and maneuver safely, and there’s a chance you might miss something important in your reversing alerts, leading to potential accidents. Even with modern safety technology, reversing into tight spots can still be prone to error. Aside from the safety concerns, it can also be frustrating for other drivers to have to wait while you slowly back into a parking space, especially in crowded parking lots. In some places, reversing into a parking space is even prohibited due to the risks involved.
When reversing, drivers need to be extra aware of their surroundings, especially in high-traffic areas or busy parking lots. Without backup cameras or warning systems, maneuvering can be difficult. Newer cars may have cameras to help with this, but not all have these features.
Reversing into gaps can be dangerous because many drivers lack the skills to do so safely. Aside from battling with other vehicles and pedestrians, it’s also easy to miss obstacles. This can lead to serious accidents involving both drivers and pedestrians. Additionally, taking up more than one space when reversing is inconsiderate of other drivers, and in tight parking lots there may not be enough room behind you to maneuver safely. Even the most skilled reverse parkers often take longer than those who park upside down.
Ultimately, the potential risks and delays often outweigh the perceived benefits of backing into a space. Head-first into a parking space is generally safer and more convenient for everyone. It provides better visibility and minimizes the risk of collision or damage to vehicles. For larger vehicles or pickup trucks, backing into a spot can be particularly challenging due to the size and location of the spot relative to other vehicles.
In some areas, reversing is not permitted for safety reasons. Without visible brake lights when reversing, other drivers and pedestrians may not see you stop, increasing the risk of an accident. While reversing is possible in some winding parking lots, it is often a nuisance and a potential danger to those around you.
In summary, reversing into parking spaces can be risky and often not worth it. It can cause accidents, inconvenience other drivers and even result in parking tickets. For safety and convenience, it is best to park head first.
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