Bob Seger, the legendary rock musician known for hits like “Night Moves,” “Turn the Page,” and “Old Time Rock and Roll,” embarked on his final concert tour in 2018. After over 50 years of performing and recording music, Seger decided that this would be his last time touring and announced the aptly named “Travelin’ Man Tour.”
The Announcement
In September 2018, Seger officially announced his final tour which was scheduled to begin in November of that year. He explained that at 73 years old, the rigors of touring were starting to take a toll. While he still loved performing, he felt it was the right time to wind down the concert side of his career. The tour was slated for 33 shows across North America.
“I’m not going to tour anymore. This is it. This is the last one,” Seger said in an interview when the tour was announced. He wanted to be able to go out on top and bid farewell to fans with some final shows.
Why “Travelin’ Man?”
Seger dubbed the farewell excursion the Travelin’ Man Tour as a nod to his long, rewarding career. Taking its name from Seger’s 1961 single “Travelin’ Man,” it paid tribute to the journey Seger had been on as a touring musician playing for audiences across the country for over five decades.
“I’ve been playin’ music for a livin’ since I was 15. I’m 73 now. I’ve been on the road since I was 16 doin’ 365 days a year. I grew up on the road,” Seger remarked, noting just how long his life had revolved around travel and live performance.
A Long History of Touring
Seger first hit the road in 1961, paying his dues playing small clubs as an energetic teenager just starting out. In the 1960s, he toured constantly around the Midwest with his early bands like The Decibels, The Town Criers, and Doug Brown & The Omens. By the late 1960s, Seger started gaining regional notoriety and played larger venues with The Bob Seger System. His popularity skyrocketed in the 1970s with his backup group The Silver Bullet Band, fueled by hit singles like “Night Moves” and “Turn the Page.”
Over the next four decades, Seger filled arenas and amphitheaters across the United States with his signature brand of heartland rock and roll. He amassed a tremendous catalog of songs portraying blue-collar life in the Motor City. When Seger hit the road for his final tour, he had been a consistent concert draw for an astounding 57 years.
A Final Farewell
So when it came time for his last tour, the Travelin’ Man trek served as one final goodbye to his legions of dedicated fans. The title was the perfect encapsulation of Seger’s transient lifetime spent on the move spreading his musical gifts. Seger remarked that after this tour wrapped up, he didn’t plan to ever hit the road again.
“This time I think it’s for real,” he said, noting this would definitely be his final chapter as a touring musician.
The Tour Itinerary
The Travelin’ Man tour kicked off on November 21, 2018 at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The extensive 33-date slate of shows focused on the eastern half of North America.
Midwest and East Coast
Seger and his Silver Bullet Band played multiple shows in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Other Midwest stops included concerts in cities like Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Louisville, and St. Louis. On the East Coast, the tour visited Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Toronto among other places.
Deep South
The tour also headed south for a handful of dates in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Nashville, and Atlanta. This gave Seger’s faithful Southern fans a chance to catch the rock icon in their neck of the woods one last time.
West Coast
Seger crossed the country for four final shows in the western United States including Seattle, Portland, and two concerts in his longtime hometown of Detroit. The tour wrapped up at the Forum in Los Angeles on May 2, 2019, concluding Seger’s long touring career right back where it started when Detroit felt the brunt of his raw rock power in the 1960s.
The Setlist
Since this was his farewell trek, Seger crafted a setlist of career-spanning hits and fan favorites tailored for longtime devotees. The shows averaged around 20 songs each night.
Iconic Hits
No Seger concert would be complete without staples like “Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Night Moves,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Mainstreet,” “Turn the Page,” and “Like a Rock.” Those classic songs appeared at every single stop on the 33-date itinerary.
Deeper Cuts
In addition to the smashes, Seger included some deeper cuts for loyal fans including “The Fire Down Below,” “Brave Strangers,” “Roll Me Away,” “Come to Poppa,” and “Horizontal Bop.” There were also a few carefully chosen covers like Chuck Berry’s “C’est La Vie.”
Long Runtime
The sets typically exceeded 30 songs and ran close to three hours. Seger and the Silver Bullet Band were determined to deliver their money’s worth for one final go-round.
Critical Reception
Reviews of Seger’s farewell tour were overwhelmingly positive. Critics praised the high level of energy and musicianship from Seger and his band. They also remarked that Seger’s voice remained in fine form and that he still played with passion.
Robust Performances
“On opening night of his latest tour, Bob Seger proved he still delivers. Over nearly three hours on stage, his voice rang strong and his Silver Bullet Band accompanied him powerfully,” wrote Melissa Ruggieri of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“At 73, Seger sounded every bit as good as he did when many of the songs were brand new…Seger and his Silver Bullet Band were robust, generating enough wattage to power the K Rock Centre,” added Mike Botiwnek of Vancouver’s The Province newspaper.
Satisfied Fans
Fans also seemed extremely satisfied with Seger’s farewell shows. Many remarked at how Seger still brought vigor and passion to his performance, allowing them to take one final nostalgic trip back in time.
“Bob Seger put on an amazing show! His voice was strong and he played a great mix of hits and deep cuts. What a way to say goodbye to touring. I’m so glad I got to see a legend one last time!” commented one fan on Twitter after a show.
Why Seger Called it Quits
Seger cited a few key reasons for hanging up his touring days after such a storied career.
Age and Health
At 73 years old, the demands of the road had simply become too taxing. Seger found it increasingly difficult to muster the stamina for 30+ song marathon shows night after night.
“It’s gotten really difficult for me. I have a degenerative disc disease and I have to sit down a lot or I wouldn’t be able to make the whole show,” Seger told Rolling Stone, citing his back problems.
Spending Time with Family
Seger also yearned to spend more time with his wife and young kids at home rather than being stuck on a tour bus. His children were just starting school, so Seger no longer wanted to miss those valuable family moments.
“I want to spend more time with my kids before they’re grown. I don’t see enough of them as it is,” Seger explained. “I want to be there for them.”
Going Out on Top
Rather than endure a possible decline on stage, Seger preferred to end on a high note with his voice and band still firing on all cylinders as evidenced by the glowing Travelin’ Man tour reviews.
“I don’t want to go out and feel like I’m fighting it. I want to go out feeling like I can still do it, still hit the notes, still have the drive,” Seger told The Detroit News when announcing his retirement.
Life After Touring
Though he may not hit the road anymore, don’t expect Seger to fade away entirely into retirement.
Possibility of New Music
Seger hasn’t ruled out writing and recording new material. He even tested out a few new songs on the Travelin’ Man tour. Seger admits he still occasionally comes up with lyrical ideas.
“I still write. I still pick up my guitar and come up with little things,” he told Rolling Stone. So while large-scale tours are done, a few one-off hometown shows or some fresh compositions may not be.
Remaining Catalog Legacy
Regardless of any future recordings, Seger’s musical legacy is already cemented. His prolific catalog contains some of the most memorable heartland rock anthems ever put to tape. Expect his hallmark hits like “Night Moves” and “Old Time Rock and Roll” to remain staples of American culture for generations.
Though the Travelin’ Man has concluded his life on the road after an astonishing 60-year run, Seger’s contributions to rock and roll will live on indefinitely even without the tours.
Conclusion
When Seger took his final bow at the Forum in Inglewood, California on May 2nd, 2019, it marked the end of one of the most impressive touring careers in rock history. The Travelin’ Man tour served as a fitting farewell for the Detroit legend.
Over 33 shows and six months, Seger revisited his rich catalog of heartfelt lyrics, raspy vocals, and melodic Midwestern rock one last time for his die-hard fans. The outpouring of appreciation from critics and concertgoers affirmed that although the shows were done, Seger’s musical legacy would carry on for generations to come.
After more than half a century on the road, the Travelin’ Man could finally rest at home with his family and take comfort knowing he had given everything he had during his long, fruitful touring journey.