Scheduled or not, a legend’s last concert is one for the books. Band members who can no longer stand each other, a creative burnout, plummeting health or even death, we've seen it all.

But never say never! Because we have learned over the years that ‘final’ rarely means ‘final’ in the music industry. And that’s completely understandable. Because, who can live without music? (Or the big bags of money a comeback might come with..)

What do you think is the most legendary ‘final’ concert?

Perhaps one of these?

7. The Band

When? 25th November, 1976
Where? San Francisco, USA

Unlike many other artists on this list, The Band knew exactly when their farewell concert would take place. And what do you do in such a case?

Exactly, you ensure that it will be an evening to remember. Surrounded by many friends, The Band celebrated Thanksgiving and performed one last time at the Winterland Ballroom.

Who these friends were? Just to name a few: Bob Dylan, the Staple Singers, Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton and many more ..

Seems like a decent bunch!

6. Lynyrd Skynyrd

When? 19th October, 1977
Where? Greenville, USA

A day after what would unexpectedly become their last live show, Lynyrd Skynyrd's original formation came to a tragic end when their plane crashed, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines. It makes their final concert at Greenville Memorial Auditorium one to remember.

The surviving members reunited in 1987 with Johnny Van Zant as the new frontman, taking his brother’s place.

5. The Who

The When? 17th December, 1982
The Where? Toronto, Canada

Who still remembers The Who’s farewell concert in 1982, no.. 1989, or was it 2015?

Never mind.. We’ve lost count of the number of their farewell concerts!

4. Queen

When? 9th August, 1986
Where? Hertfordshire, UK

Just a bit more than a year after Queen’s legendary Live Aid gig, and a month after their - maybe even more legendary - Wembley concert, Queen played their last gig in their original formation.

No less than 120,000 people at Knebworth Park in Hertfordshire saw Freddie's signature improvisations, encores of Radio Ga Ga and We Will Rock You and - of course - Queen's version of God Save The Queen. The audience was once again reminded of the band's super hit repertoire.

Cost of a ticket? £14.50 (€16.70)!

That's what you call value for money!

3. David Bowie

When? 25th June, 2004
Where? Scheeßel, Germany

After a lifetime of amazing live performances, Bowie’s official live set performance career came to a sad but special ending. He was suffering from chest pain throughout a show in Germany, but he kept going until the last notes of Ziggy Stardust. Afterwards, the star collapsed backstage from a heart attack.

Can you believe it? A true live music hero as far as we are concerned!

Later he would occasionally perform at benefit concerts or as a guest artist for Pink Floyd in the Albert Hall in London, but it never came to a real classic David Bowie live set.

2. Golden Earring

When? 16th November, 2019
Where? Rotterdam, The Netherlands

With our Dutch roots at Gigit, we are proud on our rock and roll icons Golden Earring. Last February, Golden Earring guitarist/founder George Kooymans announced that he had been diagnosed with ALS and would stop playing his beloved guitar. What started with a plectrum that kept falling out of his hands ended with the diagnosis of the incurable disease and the end of the Golden Earring.

“The Earring will no longer perform. Not with another guitarist. That is not going to happen, there will be no farewell concert.” – Barry Hay (lead singer Golden Earring)

As a result, their concert on November 16, 2019 in Ahoy Rotterdam turned out to be their last, but fortunately not the least. It was a big and lively rockshow, like we were used to from these Dutch rockers and their impressive 60 (!) year long career. Legends!

1. The Beatles

When? 30th January, 1969
Where? London, UK

In a doomed attempt to bring The Beatles back together, office workers and passers-by were taken by surprise when The Beatles began playing from the roof of their Apple office in Central London. It was their first (and last) live performance since their 1966 tour, and maybe it got a little rusty because of that.

Why?

Despite writing many of the song lyrics, John Lennon struggled to remember them. The Beatles therefore asked an Apple office assistant to kneel next to the camera and hold up cue cards with the lyrics for John.

The performance brought a lot of joy to city workers, but the police were not so happy about it. The city workers left their work for a while, causing a traffic jam.

Eventually, the police did not let it be and stopped the performance after 42 minutes. Making an abrupt end to one of the most iconic bands is music history.

Which ‘final’ concert do you think is legendary?

And if you’ve been to one, don’t forget to add it to your Gigit Liveline :)

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