After an illustrious career spanning nearly 60 years, Australian music icon Daryl Braithwaite has officially announced his retirement from live performances.
In a heartfelt statement shared via Instagram on Tuesday, June 23, the legendary former Sherbet frontman and ARIA Hall of Fame inductee revealed that ongoing health challenges have made continuing his rigorous touring schedule untenable.
“I want to share some personal news with you all,” Braithwaite wrote. “After deep reflection, I have reached the difficult decision to step away from live gigging. For some time, it has become increasingly taxing on my body to sing to the standard I expect. Consequently, the joy I have always found in performing—which has been the cornerstone of my life—has begun to fade.”
While the singer is closing the curtains on concert appearances, he has not ruled out future studio projects or new recordings. However, he has made it clear that he will no longer be accepting requests for one-off shows or public appearances.
“I have cherished these 58 years in the music industry,” he added. “I owe a sincere debt of gratitude to my loyal fans and the countless organizations I’ve worked with, all of whom have been instrumental in my journey. Thank you for everything. With much love, Daryl.”
Braithwaite’s most recent solo concert took place on March 13 at The Cooly Hotel in Queensland. Prior to this, he captivated audiences across the country as part of the 2024 Red Hot Summer tour, sharing the stage with fellow industry stalwarts Simple Minds and ICEHOUSE.
As the frontman for the glam-rock sensation Sherbet during the 1970s, Braithwaite defined a generation with hits like “Summer Love” and the anthemic “Howzat.” Their reach extended well beyond Australia, with “Howzat” achieving chart success in both the U.K. and the U.S. Notably, the group’s influence persists even today, with Daft Punk sampling their 1980s track “We Ride Tonight” for their song “Contact” on the 2013 blockbuster album Random Access Memories.
To this day, Braithwaite’s rendition of Rickie Lee Jones’ “The Horses” remains a cultural touchstone in Australia, frequently topping polls as one of the nation’s most beloved tracks. In a 2025 celebration of the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, the cover secured the No. 30 spot, marking it as the highest-ranked cover song in the countdown.
Now 77, Braithwaite remains one of the few artists to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame twice: first as a member of Sherbet in 1990, and again as a solo performer in 2017.
