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David Essex interview: Music legend hints that his upcoming tour might be his last
13 November 2025, 11:23
David Essex hints at final ever UK tour and recalls amazing John Lennon "rescue" story
David Essex talks about his "celebration of a generation" and crossing paths with John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix.
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After a helping hand from the world of musical theatre, David Essex broke through at the start of the 1970s and has been performing live ever since.
Next year he goes out on a massive UK tour, titled Thanks For The Memories, and he has now hinted that it may well be his last.
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David Essex - Hold Me Close (Live from Top of the Pops, 1975)
Gold Radio sat down with David and asked him about the upcoming jaunt, seeking some reassurance that it wouldn't be his last.
"When I play these concerts I'm always struck by how much warmth there is," Essex said. "It's like a celebration of a generation in a way.
"It's that period when you're 16 to 20 when music means so much. And those people retain that. So you look down and see 50, 60 year-olds and it's fantastic."
He added that while there would be a "smattering" of storytelling on stage, more than he's offered in the past, though the sets would still be more about the songs.
- Watch the full interview above
Asked about the possible "sense of finality" of the tour's title, David said: "I don't know. There's going to be a time where I hang by boots up, that's for sure. So maybe.
During the interview, Essex also shared the story of a time John Lennon, who told him he was a big fan of 'Rock On', saved him from a gaggle of autograph hunters in New York.
He also spoke about supporting Jimi Hendrix in the UK before the guitar hero really burst through into the mainstream with 'Hey Joe'.
"It was interesting to see 250 people turn into 2,500 people in a matter of months," David said.
