The Rolling Stones Cancel Proposed 2026 European Tour – Could This Be The End?

“Oh, Mama, can this really be the end?” – Bob Dylan, “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again”

Happy holidays to all of our readers out there. And while I’m tardy (just like in high school) I’d like to wish everyone a happy Keithmas, for those of you who celebrate Keith Richards’ birthday on December 18th every year. Personally I think Keithmas should be a global holiday with lots of whiskey and rock n roll but I’m probably alone in that feeling. But then again that pretty much describes every weekend around here…  The legend is 82 this year and who’d have thought he’d make it this long.

There have been rock journalist, and fans I suppose, who have been predicting his demise since the 60s. Along with that, people have been asking the Stones if their current tour would be their last since the early 70s. It seems nobody thought Keith or the Stones had the amazing longevity they’ve had. Nobody asked Muddy Waters if he was going to keep going and he played and released LPs well into his 70s. But then Muddy probably had a razor in his boot.

However, all the doomsayers may finally be right this time. It seems Keithmas brings us a mixed bag of Stones’ news this year. Let’s start with the good news. While they waited 18 years between A Bigger Bang (2005) and Hackney Diamonds (2023), they’re going to be back in 2026 with a new, Andrew Watt produced album full of originals. From 18 years to 3 years, I’ll take it! I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Stones did put out an album in 2016, the superb blues covers album Blue And Lonesome, that I loved but I was longing for new Stones’ material.

In support of this upcoming album the Stones quietly started booking venues and mappping out a tour of European cities for a summer tour. Nothing had been announced, no tickets had gone on sale. I’ve been kind of hoping that Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart and Kenny Jones would finish the long-promised Faces reunion album they’ve been talking about for years but in my mind I had that pushed out as Ronnie was going to be busy touring European capitols on his day job.

Then, last week it was announced that the Stones would not be touring next summer, everything had been cancelled. I guess I should pencil that Faces project back in? The reason given for the cancellation: Richards can no longer face the physical rigors of an extended tour. Apparently his arthritis in his hands has just gotten too bad to continue. I thought Keith would tour forever and eventually die on stage. As Pete Townshend sang, “I can’t pretend that growing older never hurts.” Although admittedly, I’ve been worried about Keith’s health since he fell out of that coconut tree and busted his head open.

Does this mean an end to the Stones? I don’t think so. I prefer, on this issue (and perhaps only this issue) to be a glass “half full” guy. We’re getting a new album next year and that is very good news indeed. Andrew Watt really brought it out of these guys last time around. There are still treasures in the vault, like the box set we got this year for Black And Blue. But as a huge touring entity, it would appear it would appear that’s over for the Stones. All they’ve done in the 2000s is tour so it’s going to be weird. I do expect a few one-off dates here and there… maybe London and New York?

If you had the chance to see the Stones and didn’t take it in the past, I think it’s bad news for you at this point. That’s why I always say, buy the ticket, see the show. It’ll be interesting to see how active the Stones are now that they’re no longer the road warriors they’ve been since the late 90s. Maybe Mick will start pushing them back in the studio more regularly?

Tonight, I know I’ll be raising a glass to the man, the myth, Keith Richards. Happy 82nd (belatedly)! And here’s the Stones, the World’s Greatest Rock Band!

Cheers!