In the ultimate months of 2018, senior superstars could also be music’s busiest contingent. Some will launch new information as they dismiss the thought of hanging it up, whereas others are winding down with large last-hurrah excursions — however all these males definitively show that, in Phil Collins’ phrases, they’re nonetheless “raring to go.”
What’s Coming: Plays Well With Others, a four-disc compilation of career-spanning collabs from Eric Clapton to Lil’ Kim (Sept. 28).
How He’s Doing: Back injury-related points halted his 2017 tour, however he’s hitting the highway in October along with his 16-year-old son, Nicholas, on drums.
Packing It In?: He retired in 2011, then introduced, “I am no longer retired,” in 2015, saying, “The horse is out of the stable and raring to go.”
Showing His … Wisdom: The title of his 2016 memoir, Not Dead Yet, plus the identify of his upcoming tour (Not Dead Yet, Live!), say all of it.
What’s Coming: His first launch with the Imposters since 2008, Look Now, drops Oct. 12, that includes co-writes with Carole King and Burt Bacharach.
How He’s Doing: 2013’s Wise Up Ghost — his most up-to-date studio effort, a collaboration with The Roots — peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200.
Packing It In?: Costello canceled European dates in July after most cancers surgical procedure, however he’s decided to tour supporting Look Now this fall.
Showing His … Wisdom: Once a famously indignant younger man, he not too long ago informed El Mundo that “social networks are a parasite.”
What’s Coming: Farewell Yellow Brick Road — his last tour, although it’s set to run for 3 years — kicked off in early September.
How He’s Doing: Early projections for the tour anticipate John grossing a whopping $400 million over 300 dates.
Packing It In?: From touring, sure. “I’m not Cher, although I like carrying her garments,” mentioned John in January. “This is the end.”
Showing His … Wisdom: “I’m a Luddite,” he has admitted. “I’ve never downloaded anything in my life — not even porn.”
What’s Coming: A Netflix documentary, Quincy, directed by Rashida Jones, his daughter, premieres Sept. 21.
How He’s Doing: Besides perfecting the filter-free interview, Jones is as musically lively as ever, particularly as a mentor to younger jazz artists.
Packing It In?: “They be thinking I’m 84 and retired and all that shit,” he mentioned earlier this 12 months. “They wrong, man. Oh baby! I am never retiring!”
Showing His … Wisdom: He not too long ago boasted about having 22 girlfriends from all around the world. Would he date somebody his personal age? “Hell no!”
What’s Coming: Sir Paul simply launched his 25th post-Beatles studio album, Egypt Station.
How He’s Doing: His final worldwide jaunt, 2017’s One on One Tour, raked in a cool $132 million and hit 4 continents.
Packing It In?: He not too long ago informed BBC Radio he’s taking Willie Nelson’s recommendation: “He says, ‘Retire from what?’ And I think that just says it.”
Showing His … Wisdom: When he joined the Desert Trip lineup (together with Bob Dylan and Neil Young) in 2016, he fortunately referred to as it a “fossil-rock” affair.
What’s Coming: In the Blue Light, an album reimagining favorites from his catalog, simply got here out. He’ll play his last-ever live performance on Sept. 22 in Queens, New York.
How He’s Doing: 2016’s Stranger to Stranger debuted at No. three on the Billboard 200 — his highest-charting solo album since Graceland.
Packing It In?: For now, a minimum of. “I’ve been doing this since I was 16; I’ve never taken a break,” Simon not too long ago mentioned. “So I thought … stop! See what happens.”
Showing His … Wisdom: He’s a pop-music legend, however in 2016 informed Billboard he’s “not a big fan of, you know, halftime-at-the-Super Bowl music.”
This article originally appeared in the Sept. 15 issue of Billboard.
