Sir Cliff Richard, 84, Hints at Retirement as He Admits: ‘I Might Be Dead Next Year’
LONDON — Legendary pop icon Sir Cliff Richard has shocked fans by suggesting that his current run of shows could mark the end of his touring career, candidly admitting: “I might be dead next year.”
The 84-year-old singer, whose career has spanned nearly seven decades, is currently performing in Australia and New Zealand before returning to the UK later this year. While Cliff has long been admired for his stamina and ability to defy age — often dubbed the “Peter Pan of Pop” — he revealed in a recent interview with New Zealand radio station Coast that the demands of life on the road are becoming increasingly difficult.
“The thing I would have to give up probably at some time is touring,” he admitted. “It’s very wearing, and you never know when you wake up in the morning whether your voice is still there. I don’t want to be an 85-year-old guy trying to be 18.”
Reflecting on the possibility that his Can’t Stop Me Now tour could be his last, Cliff responded with characteristic frankness: “I don’t know. I might be dead the next year! So I don’t even think about it anymore. As I get older maybe I’ll become less able to perform, so I can’t say…”
Despite the sobering remarks, the star — who will celebrate his 85th birthday in October — emphasized that he still enjoys performing. “I like singing now. I’m as excited now as I was when I came [to New Zealand] last time,” he said. “I’m sure the audience will see that we — the big band and I — are friends and almost a family when we’re on tour. So we’ll try and do something that will make it look as though I’m 18! But I’m not.”
Sir Cliff, who has sold more than 260 million records worldwide, first rose to fame as a teenager in the late 1950s with hits like Move It and Living Doll. He went on to dominate charts through the decades with classics including Summer Holiday, Devil Woman, We Don’t Talk Anymore, and the perennial holiday favorite Mistletoe and Wine.
Now, after nearly 70 years on stage, the strain of constant touring appears to be weighing heavily on him. While he stopped short of officially announcing a farewell tour, his words left many fans preparing for the possibility that the Bachelor Boy singer could soon step back from large-scale live performances.
For admirers across generations, Cliff’s reflections are a reminder of the fragility of time, even for one of Britain’s most enduring entertainers. Whether or not he continues to tour, his legacy as one of the best-selling artists in history is already secure.