SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY LYON
After a half-century of being one of the leading figures on the New Jersey rock scene, Southside Johnny Lyon has announced his retirement from touring, citing health reasons.
A message on Facebook, posted by The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank (where Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes had been scheduled to perform on Christmas Eve), reads:
After a hugely successful 50-year run with his band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, touring non-stop throughout the U.S and overseas, ‘Southside Johnny’ Lyon has made the decision to retire from touring in order to manage ongoing health issues.
Our show on New Year’s Eve at the Count Basie Center will unfortunately be canceled. Tickets will be refunded via original points of purchase.
Johnny Lyon and the Asbury Jukes are an integral part of the Basie Center’s history and the history of music here at the Jersey Shore. While we’re sad we won’t be seeing them this New Year’s Eve, everyone at the Count Basie Center is forever grateful for the hundreds of moments that he and his bandmates have created on our stages.
We love you, Johnny!
The band had some shows scheduled for March and April as well.
No more details are currently known.
Southside Johnny turned 76 on Dec. 4. On Dec. 14, he left the stage after just a handful of songs at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, and The Asbury Jukes finished the rest of the sold-out show without him.
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes formed in 1975 and released their first album, I Don’t Want to Go Home, in 1976.
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