Iconic 70s rock band announce ‘perfect’ final ever gig after bandmate’s death-Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro

Jeff Lynne has announced ELO’s final outing will be at BST Hyde Park 2025 (Picture: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall of Fame)

Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) will say farewell to touring with a show at London’s BST Hyde Park next year.

Festival organisers called the gig in July 2025 a ‘final goodbye’ from the band, which was founded in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne and keyboardist Roy Wood.

Richard Tandy, who had been bassist but became the keyboardist after the departure of Wood, died at the age of 76 earlier this year.

The band is currently on a farewell US tour, Over And Out, which will end on Saturday October 26 at The Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.

But they will perform their final ever concert in the UK in what will be a circular moment for the Mr Blue Sky hitmakers.

‘My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014,’ Jeff said. ‘It seems like the perfect place to do our final show.

‘We couldn’t be more excited to share this special night in London with our UK fans. As the song goes, ‘”we’re gonna do it One More Time”.’

From left to right, ELO members were cellist Melvyn Gale, cellist Hugh McDowell, singer and drummer Bev Bevan, singer and guitarist Jeff Lynne, keyboard player Richard Tandy, bassist and singer Kelly Groucutt(Picture: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Jeff announced Tandy’s death earlier this year (Picture: Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The band, who split in 1986, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

ELO’s song One More Time features on the album From Out Of Nowhere, which was released in 2019 after singer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Jeff reformed the band in 2014.

Jim eventually reformed the band in the 2000s and Tandy was the only member to rejoin him in the new iteration of the group, making them the longest contributing members of ELO.

Jeff was made an OBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to music, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015.

The group is known for fusing classical music, Beatles-style pop and futuristic rock visuals, and for the hits Livin’ Thing, Mr Blue Sky, Telephone Line and Evil Woman across the ’70s and ’80s.

The hall of famers were responsible for hits including Mr Blue Sky and Livin’ Thing (Picture: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall of Fame)

Between 1973 and 1986 the band sold over 50 million records worldwide and earned 27 Top 40 songs on the UK Singles Chart and fifteen Top 20 songs on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Jim King, chief executive of European festivals at AEG Presents, said: ‘Jeff Lynne’s ELO are loved the world over.

‘The live shows are nothing short of extraordinary and a testament to the incredible catalogue of hits we’ve enjoyed for over 50 years.

‘Hosting their final performance at BST Hyde Park is a true honour, especially 30 years after their first festival show in the same park. We’re excited to be part of this special moment in music history.”

Jeff announced bandmate Tandy’s death in a social media post on May 1, 2024.

‘It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy,’ he said.

‘He was a remarkable musician & friend and I’ll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together. Sending all my love to Sheila & the Tandy family.’

ELO will perform on Sunday July 13 2025 at BST Hyde Park, with tickets on sale from 9am on Friday October 25.

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