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Last update: March 22, 2004 at 7:03 PM
Jeremy Breningstall: So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen for now
Jeremy Breningstall

March 23, 2004

With a recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction rescuing him from 15 years of near-obscurity, Prince has taken off on a "Musicology" tour. But the most curious aspect of this revival is its billing: "Per4ming his hits live 4 the last time."

Forty-five years old and ready to hang up his high-heeled shoes? Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra played their hits live into their 70s.

Prince is far from the only recent "finalist." Finality, it seems, has become the marketing tool of the new millennium. Tina Turner did her "One Last Time" tour a few years ago. Cher's farewell tour began in 2001 -- and never stopped. Alabama soon followed with a farewell tour of their own. Britney Spears has not yet announced hers.

Unlike Cher and other recent farewell performers, Prince is not pledging to never hit the stage again. He is only saying this is the last time he will play his "hits" -- the catalogue of catchy, quirky and slightly mischievous dance songs he unleashed in the '80s.

But how real are these so-called "retirements"?

Barbra Streisand returned in 1993 after a 20-year concert hiatus, then retired again seven years later. Cher has upcoming concerts this spring in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Kiss is still touring four years after they announced their "farewell tour."

Acting retiree Jane Fonda told Barbara Walters three years ago that "no movie part would be as interesting as my life" -- and adamantly insisted she wouldn't be returning to the screen after her divorce from Ted Turner. This year, she's filming "Monster-in-Law" with Jennifer Lopez. Was it a stellar role offered by Robert "Legally Blonde" Luketic that drew her back?

Cat Stevens retired from music after converting to Islam in 1977 -- and hasn't played a hit since ("Peace Train" has been replaced by calls to execute Salman Rushdie). But even Stevens came out with a 1995 chanting-and-Muhammad-bio album to raise money for Muslim causes. He has since recorded several more Islam-themed albums, including a compilation disc to raise money for Bosnian refugees.

Retirement and unretirement has become a constant of our times: Witness Michael Jordan, Roger Clemens and George Foreman. Even Edwin Moses has been seen trying to get his 48-year-old body around the 400-meter hurdle track in under 50 seconds -- hoping to make it to the Olympic trials.

A more realistic Phil Collins is billing his current performances as a "First Final Farewell Tour."

Prince should put on a great show June 16 at the Xcel Center. But I wouldn't bet on this being his last "hit" performance.

Jeremy Breningstall is a freelance writer from St. Louis Park. He doesn't pledge to stop writing after this article.

didnt prince retire the ole hits before? was it two or three tours ago?

sosgemini said:

he's pulled the hits-for-the-last-time card quite a bit for some time now...folks should know better to even THINK about believin it.