Bob Seger in 2017 (Photo: Romain Blanquart; used with permission)
More than two years after beginning his farewell tour, Bob Seger performed his final concert with the Silver Bullet Band on Nov. 1, 2019, in Philadelphia. The goodbye was unexpectedly delayed when he was forced to postpone the tour in 2017 for “intense spinal surgery,” due to a ruptured disc. After a lengthy period for the classic rock legend to recover, it resumed November 21, 2018.
The final concert, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, featured 24 songs, including such classic rock favorites as “Night Moves,” “We’ve Got Tonight,” “Against the Wind,” and “Hollywood Nights.” Towards the end of the main set, Seger covered Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young,” a song he’s been including throughout the year.
This ad for Seger’s Night Moves album appeared in the Nov. 6, 1976 issue of Record World
Seger’s farewell tour began as the “Runaway Train” tour on August 24, 2017. Once he was ready to resume his workload, the rescheduled tour – renamed “Roll Me Away” – was announced on Sept. 18, 2018: “After a career that has spanned more than 50 years, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band will hit the road for one last time on their final tour… giving fans one more opportunity to see Seger and the band live.”
Seger, born on May 6, 1945, joined a growing list of classic rock stars that announced farewell tours including Paul Simon, Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Baez, Neil Diamond and Peter Frampton.
Seger is a Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer, and bandleader whose indelible body of work has affirmed his place in the fabric of American song. Inducted to both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he has sold more than 53 million albums and has earned 13 platinum and 7 multi- platinum RIAA Certified sales awards, including such landmark albums as Beautiful Loser, Live Bullet, Night Moves, Stranger in Town, Against the Wind and Nine Tonight.
Watch “Still the Same,” from the final concert
Watch him perform several favorites
Related: Our review of Seger’s final tour
There were two sets of encores. “Hollywood Nights” ended the first one.
On October 22, 2023, Seger appeared at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony to support his friend Patty Loveless, one of the evening’s inductees. Seger took the stage to a stunned room — and Loveless was stunned right along with them. Some 20 years earlier, he flew down to Georgia to record a duet with Loveless for one of his albums. On this occasion, he belted out her 1996 Top Five country hit “She Drew a Broken Heart.”
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Philadelphia, PA, November 1, 2019, Final Concert Setlist
Simplicity
Still the Same
The Fire Down Below
Mainstreet
Old Time Rock & Roll
The Fire Inside
Shame on the Moon
Roll Me Away
Come to Poppa
Her Strut
Like a Rock
You’ll Accomp’ny Me
We’ve Got Tonight
Travelin’ Man
Beautiful Loser
Sunspot Baby
Turn the Page
Forever Young
Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
Encore
Against the Wind
Hollywood Nights
Watch Seger perform “Night Moves,” during his second encore
Encore 2
The Famous Final Scene
Night Moves
Rock and Roll Never Forgets
Seger’s recordings are available here.
Related: Links to 100s of classic rock tours
10 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSaw this tour last December. What a show, it was incredible. Bad ass band, perfect sound. Thanks Bob for all the memories!
I have and always will love Bob Seger and his music!! All of it!! I will carry him in my heart 4-ever!! Job well done through the yrs my friend!! Listening to your songs lifts me up and I sing along with you!! Take care of yourself!! Let your fans hear from you now and then We love you ❤️❤️
After Seger 7 I stopped liking his music.Not a fan of night moves and all that other crap.Listen to Back in 72 ,mongrel, or smokin op’s if you want to hear some good Seger
You guys who say that Seger sold out, and he became “No good”, when he started to finally make it, and his songs became more mainstream really piss me off.
I have been listening to this man’s music since the late Sixties, and he was as great back then as he is now, that is true but, the simple fact is that when he started to finally make it, it was just a simple matter of a great song writer coming into his own, it was a natural progression of a man who had started to grow up, and write songs that made an impact on people.
The fact that you “stopped liking his music” after Seger 7, says more about you than it does about him. You refused to grow up, and Seger moved on without you.
its not about growing up.i can have a different opinion then you. relax.I grew up in ann arbor with him and i just like his hungry artist years better
I agree — “Face the Promise” from 2006 was as good an album as Bob ever released…
As a fellow native Detroiter, I’ve been going to his shows since we were both in high school. I saw this tour open in Toledo, then to Columbus when he picked it up again. Three more shows in Detroit and every show was better than the last if that’s even possible. Yes, early Seger was raw and rough but like a fine wine he matured and developed his musical complexities. Thank you Bob for a lifetime of great music and memories.
I Enjoyed SAP Center CONCERT in San Jose, CA a few years ago. I have Always liked Seger’s Musical Sound. Bob, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
FOREVER YOUNG….
We saw Bob in Dec. of that tour. We was Fantastic!! We thought because if that back problem he might not be able to move around much. We were wrong. He sang All our favorites and was Wonderful !!!!!
Almost 71 and still love the classic rock bands