Southside Johnny retires from touring; New Year’s Eve show canceled

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SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY LYON

After half a century of being a leading figure in the New Jersey rock scene, Southside Johnny Lyon has announced his retirement from touring due to health reasons.

A message on Facebook posted by the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank (where Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes were scheduled to perform on Christmas Eve) reads:

After a highly successful 50-year run with his band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, touring continuously throughout the United States and overseas, “Southside Johnny” Lyon has made the decision to retire from touring due to ongoing health issues.

Unfortunately, our New Year’s Eve show at the Count Basie Center is canceled. Tickets will be refunded via the original points of sale.

Johnny Lyon and the Asbury Jukes are an integral part of the history of the Basie Center and the history of music here on the Jersey Shore. Although we’re sad we won’t see them on New Year’s Eve, everyone at the Count Basie Center is forever grateful for the hundreds of moments he and his bandmates created on our stages.

We love you, Johnny!

The band also had some performances planned for March and April.

Further details are currently unknown.

Southside Johnny turned 76 on December 4th. On December 14, he left the stage after just a handful of songs at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, and the Asbury Jukes completed the remainder of the sold-out show without him.

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes formed in 1975 and released their first album, I don’t want to go homein 1976.