By Mesfin Fekadu, Associated Press

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018|7:17 p.m.

New York City– Elton John is retiring from the roadway after his upcoming three-year international trip, capping nearly 50 years on stages worldwide. He calls it a “way to go out with a bang.”

“I’ve had a great run, I believe you ‘d admit that,” John said Wednesday, adding that he wanted to “leave people thinking, ‘I saw the last trip and it was great.'”

The 70-year-old vocalist, pianist and author stated he wanted to hang out with his family. His kids will be 10 and 8 when the trip ends in 2021, and John stated he hoped he may be able to take them to soccer practice. “My concerns now are my children and my hubby and my family,” he stated. “This is completion.”

John made the statement at an event in New York where he sat at a piano and carried out “Tiny Dancer” and “I’m Still Standing.” He used his signature glasses and a colorful fit coat that checked out “Gucci Enjoys Elton.”

His last tour– called “Farewell Yellow Brick Roadway”– begins on Sept. 8 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It will include 300 programs in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Tickets go on sale starting Feb. 2.

Interest in the announcement was so high his website crashed. He composed on Instagram that “EltonJohn.com will be totally back online as quickly as possible.”

John said he chose his retirement strategies in 2015 in France: “I cannot physically do the traveling and I do not want to,” he said.

He said he might do a residency after the trip covers, but eliminated the idea of using a hologram of himself. He called it “scary” and “a bit freaky,” and said he informed his kids to “assure me that there will not be a hologram of me.”

“Who knows? They might go broke and put me back on the (curse) phase,” he included.

John has actually suffered a number of medical setbacks of late, consisting of a bacterial infection last year that he contracted during a South American tour and an E. coli bacterial infection in 2009. He’s also suffered an appendicitis and has been fitted with a pacemaker. But on Wednesday he stated he’s “in terrific health.”

In an interview after the announcement, John informed The Associated Press, “10 years back, I wished to pass away onstage.”

“I just never ever believed fathership could bring me a lot delight, and I came to fatherhood late in the day, but it’s been among the wonders of my life,” stated John, who stated he plans to take his kids on the road for some of the programs.

He said 2 kids keep him and other half David Furnish hectic: “We thought of (more kids) but we said, ‘No.’ We have enough on our plate with these 2. If we were 10, 15 years more youthful, we most likely would have, definitely. I would love to have a little lady.”

At the Grammy Awards, to be presented in New York on Sunday, John is to perform together with Miley Cyrus and will collect the President’s Benefit Award. His Vegas residency ends in May after six years. His hits include “Your Tune” and “Candle in the Wind.” He has won 5 Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden World for “The Lion King” and a Tony Award for “Aida.” He is the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor and has actually offered 300 million records.

“I had a period in my life when I was selling records, I couldn’t stop being No. 1, and I slowly evened out. If you ready live, it’s about having the ability to play live. The great artists that are out now– McCartney, Springsteen, Sting, Bob Dylan, they have actually all been terrific live entertainers, The Who– that’s the longevity,” he stated. “There aren’t many of us left and I don’t think when we go there will be anyone else to replace us.”

John introduced his very first trip in 1970 and has actually performed over 4,000 times in more than 80 countries. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

He said the upcoming trip could consist of unique visitors onstage: “Maybe. Yeah, obviously. … That keeps the momentum of the trip going. … That will take place.”

From 1970-76, John launched 10 initial studio albums and seven successive chart toppers. He stayed a hit maker over the following four years, from “The Lion King” soundtrack tune “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to a revision of his Marilyn Monroe ode “Candle light in the Wind,” launched in 1997 after the death of John’s pal Princess Diana and one of the best-selling singles of perpetuity.

“I love music. It’s not a chore. It’s enjoyment. Music kept me alive when I was doing drugs and I was still working. It’s a constant in my life every sense I have actually been a young kid. The factor I’m here is due to the fact that of music. And now the reason has actually altered– it’s because of my children,” he stated.