Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band performing on opening night of the Runaway Train tour (Photo via Seger’s Facebook page)
On June 1, 2017, Bob Seger announced his “Runaway Train” North American arena tour, his first outing since March 30, 2015. On August 24, 2017, the performer, opened the tour at Huntington Center in Toledo, OH, with a 20-song set that showcased his enormous catalog of classic rock hits. (See full set list below.)
The classic rock icon had another two dozen dates scheduled through Nov. 4. More were expected.
But when Seger postponed a sole date–his Sept. 30 concert in Columbus, OH–it appeared to be a case of the then-72-year-old classic rock legend perhaps having overextending himself on his arena tour. Not so.
It turned out Seger had a ruptured disc in his neck, leading to “intense spinal surgery. I’ve been singing real hard for 52 years. That’s a strain on the upper shoulders and neck. And I guess I finally just popped one out.”
Watch 2017’s opening night’s first number, “Roll Me Away”
Watch “You’ll Accomp’ny Me”
And “The Fire Inside”
He continued to perform. “I’ll take care of this after the tour,” he said, though the doctors warned him that if the numbness spread to his legs, he’d have to stop. He suspended his Runaway Train tour on Oct. 3 upon receiving his doctor’s orders to attend to an urgent medical issue concerning his vertebrae. He had a cervical laminectomy on Oct. 20.
In a March 28, 2018, post on his Facebook page, his social media team wrote: “Bob continues to progress with his recovery and physical therapy. Returning to the concert stage is now our number one priority. We want you to know that your patience and well wishes are greatly appreciated.”
In June 2018, Seger announced his return to the stage that fall. The rescheduled tour, renamed simply, the Final Tour, began Nov. 21—more than a year after they had been postponed – and continued well into 2019.
Related: Our review of his February 2019 concert in Denver
Watch more clips from opening night below.
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, August 24, 2017, Setlist
Roll Me Away
Tryin’ To Live My Life Without You
The Fire Down Below
You’ll Accomp’ny Me
Old Time Rock & Roll
Mainstreet
Come to Poppa
Her Strut
Like a Rock
The Devil’s Right Hand
It’s Your World
The Fire Inside
We’ve Got Tonight
Travelin’ Man / Beautiful Loser
Turn the Page
Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
Encore
Against the Wind
Hollywood Nights
Encore 2
Night Moves
Rock and Roll Never Forgets
Watch “Turn the Page”
Alto Reed, the Silver Bullet Band’s longtime sax player who performed that great solo, died in 2020.
As Best Classic Bands reported, Seger’s Greatest Hits album passed the 10 million sales mark. How many legacy acts can offer “Against the Wind,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Night Moves” and “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” as encores, as Seger did on this opening night?
Watch two of the encores, “Against the Wind” (from one month later) and “Hollywood Nights” (on opening night
Seger is an inductee of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His catalog has sold over 53 million albums and has earned 13 Platinum and 7 Multi-Platinum RIAA Certified sales awards. Unlike many other stars, Seger has not resumed touring. His significant catalog is available here.
Related: Our Album Rewind of his great Live Bullet
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationIt’s a safe bet that when Seger does reschedual these shows that they will be part of his last tour. If you want to see a high energy show, go see Seger, his band is just awesome live and Seger will give you everything he’s got, and surprisingly at 73 that is still quite a bit. He never disappoints.
I was at the Toledo opening and a Detroit kid who has watched Bob since we were both in high school, I can tell you he hasn’t lost an ounce of energy. Looking forward to seeing him in Columbus. Go see him!,