Featuring Twisted Sister, KISS, Slayer, Nine Inch Nails, Mötley Crüe & more
Ah, the good ol’ “farewell tour” – a sacred ritual where fans fork out silly money, buy the commemorative hoodie, shed a tear during the encore, and whisper to their mates: “This is the last time, mun.” 🥺🎶
Except… it never is. Because in rock ‘n’ roll, “farewell” often means “see you in five years when the bank account runs dry or the itch to riff gets unbearable.” 🎤💸
From glam metal tricksters to thrash titans, here are 16 rock bands who proved that goodbye really means ‘until next time.’
1. 🤘 Twisted Sister
Dee Snider spat fire in 2016, swearing the band were hanging up the makeup after a final blowout tour. Fast-forward a decade and in true rock fashion, they’re back for their 50th anniversary world tour in 2026. We’re not gonna take it? Nah, we’re absolutely gonna take tickets.
2. 🎭 KISS
KISS’s “Farewell Tour” in 2000 was supposed to be the last dance. Then came another two decades of pyro, confetti, and merch drops. They even tried to end it (again) with The End of the Road Tour. But if you believe that’s truly the end, you probably believe Gene Simmons does things out of charity.
3. ☠️ Slayer
Slayer played their “final” gig in 2019, and fans gave them the Viking funeral they deserved. Except – plot twist – in 2025 they’re back on festival bills. Turns out, you can’t just reign in blood once and walk away.
4. 🖤 Mötley Crüe
Ah, the kings of chaos. In 2014 they signed a “legally binding” document promising they’d never tour again. By 2019, they’d gleefully ripped it up, citing demand for The Dirt film as their excuse. By 2022, they were back in stadiums with Def Leppard. Nothing says “farewell” like a pyrotechnic middle finger.
5. 🌑 Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor’s “Wave Goodbye” tour in 2009 was as moody and dramatic as you’d expect. Four years later, NIN were back snarling on stage. Because honestly, what else is Trent gonna do? Sit still? Nah butt.
6. ⚡ Judas Priest
2011’s Epitaph World Tour was marketed as the last chance to see the Metal Gods live. Then Rob Halford looked at his leather wardrobe and said: “Nah, still fits.” Priest are still melting faces across arenas worldwide.
7. 🎤 Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy has retired more times than most of us have changed jobs. “No More Tours” in 1992? Came back. “No More Tours II” in 2018? Came back. Expect “No More Tours III: Sharon Says Get On With It” any year now.
8. 🕶️ Elton John
Not a metal lord, but worth a mention. Elton wrapped up his mammoth Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in 2023… only for rumours of another Vegas run to spark weeks later. Farewell? More like “to be continued.”
9. 🦅 The Eagles
The band famously split in 1980, with Don Henley declaring they’d reunite “when hell freezes over.” Which is why their comeback was literally called the Hell Freezes Over Tour in 1994. Still soaring decades later.
10. 🪓 Pantera
This one hits different. With Dimebag and Vinnie gone, Pantera seemed gone forever. But in 2023, Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown brought Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante into the fold for a massive tour. Not a farewell comeback in the usual sense, but a resurrection worthy of the gods.
11. 🥁 The Who
Said farewell in 1982. Then again in 1989. Then again… you get the picture. Roger Daltrey’s voice might waver, but Pete Townshend is still windmilling like a lad on his first pint. Proper job.
12. 🐍 Whitesnake
David Coverdale is the master of “one more tour.” Every time he whispers “farewell,” he slithers back onto the stage a couple of years later. 2022’s “Farewell Tour” had fans raising eyebrows – don’t bet against another comeback.
13. 🎵 Genesis
Genesis wrapped things up in 1998, then returned in 2007. In 2022, Phil Collins delivered his final seated shows with the band – emotional, lush, and somehow still powerful. Will it stay the last? Watch this space.
14. 🦂 Scorpions
In 2010, they announced their farewell jaunt. Then fans noticed… they never actually stopped. Albums kept coming, tours kept selling. Rock you like a hurricane? More like a boomerang.
15. 🔥 Black Sabbath
2017’s The End Tour was an emotional farewell in Birmingham – the very birthplace of metal. But with Ozzy teasing one-off reunions, the “end” feels suspiciously flexible. Don’t put your Sabbath patches in storage just yet.
16. 🎸 The Rolling Stones
The Stones never technically declared a farewell, but every tour since the ‘80s has been billed like “this could be the last.” Keith Richards remains indestructible, and Mick Jagger still sprints across stages like he’s late for the bus. Immortal.
🎤 Final Thoughts
In the world of rock, “farewell tour” is basically code for ‘pause button.’ 🎶 Bands retire, reunite, re-retire, and keep on rinsing it until the amps finally blow. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
So next time a band says it’s their last ever gig – take it with a pinch of salt (and maybe a shot of Jack). Because in rock ‘n’ roll… goodbyes are just an encore waiting to happen. 🤘🔥
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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