Sir Cliff Richard has suggested that his upcoming tour could be one of his last, as the 84-year-old singer admits he is beginning to feel the strain of life on the road. Speaking ahead of his 'Can't Stop Me Now' tour, which will take him to Australia and New Zealand before returning to the UK in November, Cliff said that touring is 'very wearing' and he may have to give it up.
In an interview with New Zealand radio station Coast, the veteran star, who turns 85 next month, acknowledged that he has started to think about his own mortality. 'I don't know,' he said when asked if the tour could be his last. 'I might be dead the next year! So I don't even think about it anymore.'
Cliff, who has sold more than 260 million records worldwide, also addressed the physical challenges of performing at his age. 'I don't want to be an 85-year-old guy trying to be 18,' he said. He hopes to incorporate a few dance steps with his backing singers during his 1962 hit 'Do You Want To Dance?' but will decide during rehearsals. 'I can still move on stage,' he added, 'but I don't want to try to be 18 anymore.'
Despite these reflections, Cliff has previously stated he has no plans to retire and has expressed hope of still performing in his 90s. His 'Can't Stop Me Now' tour includes two dates at London's Royal Albert Hall, where he holds the record for most performances by any artist. Cliff is also the only artist to have a top five album in eight different decades.
