{"id":233489,"date":"2025-09-17T09:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T09:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/233489\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T09:28:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T09:28:11","slug":"dave-mason-announces-retirement-from-touring-due-to-health-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/233489\/","title":{"rendered":"Dave Mason Announces Retirement from Touring, Due to Health Concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Best Classic Bands Staff<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Dave Mason, who first came to prominence with Traffic in the late 1960s, then launched a solo career that has continued for more than five decades, has announced his retirement from touring.<\/p>\n

In the announcement published today (Sept. 16, 2025), his Facebook page posted, \u201cLegendary icon Dave Mason, aged 79, has officially announced his retirement from touring, closing the curtain on 60 remarkable years of rock n\u2019 roll and marking the end of a significant era in music history. He cites ongoing health challenges as the reason behind this difficult decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The full announcement continued: \u201cFor those who have attended a Dave Mason concert, you know the standard of excellence he demanded of himself and his band. One of Mason\u2019s proudest achievements was keeping his performances entirely live and authentic\u2014no backing loops, no overdubbed vocals, none of the \u2018smoke and mirrors\u2019 often used to dilute the truth of a performance. Onstage, he was the real deal. Offstage, he embodied the consummate road dog, fully devoted to the work and the life he loved.<\/p>\n

\u201cDave Mason\u2019s career spans an incredible six decades, first rising to fame as the co-founder of the groundbreaking band Traffic. His successful solo career followed, producing classics like \u2018Feelin\u2019 Alright,\u2019 \u2018Only You Know and I Know,\u2019 \u2018Shouldn\u2019t Have Took More Than You Gave,\u2019 \u2018We Just Disagree,\u2019 \u2018Let It Flow\u2019 and \u2018Every Woman.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Mason lent his talent to some of the most iconic songs of our time, collaborating with Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Graham Nash, Cass Elliot, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney & Bonnie, Spencer Davis Group, Eric Clapton, among others. His imprint on rock music is undeniable and monumental.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue to his artistic spirit, Mason will spend his retirement years pursuing creative projects, including an upcoming children\u2019s book and in his studio culling over unreleased tracks from his 60-year career of live performances. He retires from touring a happy man with a heart full of gratitude to his band members, business colleagues, and especially his legions of fans who made his life one of deep satisfaction and fulfillment. The immensity of his joy remains solid as he steps back from the stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cDave Mason\u2019s legacy is a testament to the enduring power of rock n\u2019 roll and to a man who has followed his passion with authenticity and joy for more than six decades. His music will continue to inspire and resonate for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The news of his retirement was not wholly unexpected given recent developments with his health. On June 3, 2025, Mason had canceled his 2025 tour. The singer-songwriter-guitarist was initially forced to postpone his fall 2024 tour after a serious heart condition was discovered during a routine medical check-up last September. He had hoped to resume for his spring and summer 2025 tour dates, but while recovering from that procedure, he contracted a severe infection in March, for which he was hospitalized and has been battling ever since.<\/p>\n

In November 2024,\u00a0it was announced that Mason<\/strong><\/a> had undergone successful heart valve replacement surgery. At that time, Best Classic Bands reported, \u201cDave Mason has shared great news about the heart valve replacement surgery that he had on November 11, 2024. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wrote that it was a success and he is now \u2018home with strong vitals after an overnight stay.\u2019 He added that he was \u2018so lucky to have caught this, as I was unknowingly on the brink of heart failure.\u2019 He had originally disclosed the news of his \u2018serious heart condition\u2019 on September 23, that caused him to abruptly cancel his 2024 fall tour. At that time, during a routine appointment, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer revealed that doctors detected an issue that required immediate medical attention. In a post on November 4, the legend indicated that he would have the heart valve replacement surgery\u2014the same that Mick Jagger had in 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dave Mason in 2022<\/p>\n

Mason released a new album, A Shade of Blues, on March 21, 2025, the singer-songwriter-guitarist\u2019s first set composed entirely of blues material. It includes guest appearances by Joe Bonamassa, Michael McDonald and others, performing both original Mason songs and covers of songs originally performed by blues greats Albert King, Robert Johnson and Elmore James, as well as bluesy rearrangements of \u201cDear Mr. Fantasy\u201d and \u201cThe Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys,\u201d two signature songs originally recorded by Traffic, a band in which Mason was at one time a core member. [It\u2019s available in the U.S. here<\/strong><\/a>.]<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Mason\u2019s memoir, Only You Know and I Know, arrived September 10, 2024. The book marks the first time a member of Traffic has penned a memoir, offering fans a rare glimpse into the extraordinary life and career of one of music\u2019s unsung legends.<\/p>\n

From the book\u2019s announcement: In Only You Know and I Know, Mason shares captivating tales from his remarkable rock \u2018n\u2019 roll journey, recounting the many extraordinary situations he found himself in throughout his illustrious career. From recording sessions with legendary acts such as the Rolling Stones on \u201cStreet Fighting Man\u201d and Paul McCartney on the #1 single, \u201cListen to What the Man Said,\u201d to his time spent in Fleetwood Mac and beyond, Mason\u2019s memoir is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes stories and insights. It\u2019s available in the U.S. here<\/strong><\/a> and in the U.K. here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Filled with never-before-seen photographs, Only You Know and I Know delves into the highs and lows of Mason\u2019s multifaceted career with candid storytelling and vivid anecdotes.<\/p>\n

A co-founder of the classic rock band Traffic, Mason\u2019s musical path started strong and only grew more significant over time. In addition to his renowned work as a revered guitar player and singer-songwriter (who penned \u201cFeelin\u2019 Alright,\u201d one of rock\u2019s most-covered anthems, when he was only 21), Mason, born May 10, 1946, has appeared on some of the most acclaimed recordings in music history, including George Harrison\u2019s All Things Must Pass album, the Rolling Stones\u2019 \u201cStreet Fighting Man\u201d and close friend Jimi Hendrix\u2019s classic \u201cAll Along the Watchtower.\u201d After leaving Traffic, Dave\u2019s popularity exploded with the release of his debut solo album, Alone Together\u2014marked by sell-out performances at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was 22 years old [when I started doing sessions and solo work],\u201d Mason<\/strong><\/a> , born May 10, 1946, told Best Classic Bands, \u201cand what the hell do you know when you\u2019re 22? There was no manual. I was just out there following my dream. It just happened that I was in a lot of places where things worked out for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Our interview with Dave Mason<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Related:<\/strong> Listings for 100s of classic rock tours<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch<\/strong> Mason perform \u201cWe Just Disagree\u201d at Farm Aid in 1986<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Mason\u2019s recordings are available for purchase here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a> <\/p>\n

The BCB team brings you the latest Breaking News, Contests, On This Day rock history stories, Classic Videos, retro-Charts and more.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a>Latest posts by Best Classic Bands Staff (see all<\/a>) <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by Best Classic Bands Staff Dave Mason, who first came to prominence with Traffic in the late 1960s,…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":233490,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[171,975,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-233489","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-music","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115218933906339460","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233489"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233489\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}