Dave Mason Announces Retirement from Touring, Due to Health Concerns
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Dave Mason, who first came to prominence with Traffic in the late 1960s, then launched a solo career that has continued for more than five decades, has announced his retirement from touring.
In the announcement published today (Sept. 16, 2025), his Facebook page posted, “Legendary icon Dave Mason, aged 79, has officially announced his retirement from touring, closing the curtain on 60 remarkable years of rock n’ roll and marking the end of a significant era in music history. He cites ongoing health challenges as the reason behind this difficult decision.”
The full announcement continued: “For those who have attended a Dave Mason concert, you know the standard of excellence he demanded of himself and his band. One of Mason’s proudest achievements was keeping his performances entirely live and authentic—no backing loops, no overdubbed vocals, none of the ‘smoke and mirrors’ often used to dilute the truth of a performance. Onstage, he was the real deal. Offstage, he embodied the consummate road dog, fully devoted to the work and the life he loved.
“Dave Mason’s career spans an incredible six decades, first rising to fame as the co-founder of the groundbreaking band Traffic. His successful solo career followed, producing classics like ‘Feelin’ Alright,’ ‘Only You Know and I Know,’ ‘Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave,’ ‘We Just Disagree,’ ‘Let It Flow’ and ‘Every Woman.’
“…Mason lent his talent to some of the most iconic songs of our time, collaborating with Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Graham Nash, Cass Elliot, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney & Bonnie, Spencer Davis Group, Eric Clapton, among others. His imprint on rock music is undeniable and monumental.
“True to his artistic spirit, Mason will spend his retirement years pursuing creative projects, including an upcoming children’s book and in his studio culling over unreleased tracks from his 60-year career of live performances. He retires from touring a happy man with a heart full of gratitude to his band members, business colleagues, and especially his legions of fans who made his life one of deep satisfaction and fulfillment. The immensity of his joy remains solid as he steps back from the stage.
“Dave Mason’s legacy is a testament to the enduring power of rock n’ roll and to a man who has followed his passion with authenticity and joy for more than six decades. His music will continue to inspire and resonate for generations to come.”
The news of his retirement was not wholly unexpected given recent developments with his health. On June 3, 2025, Mason had canceled his 2025 tour. The singer-songwriter-guitarist was initially forced to postpone his fall 2024 tour after a serious heart condition was discovered during a routine medical check-up last September. He had hoped to resume for his spring and summer 2025 tour dates, but while recovering from that procedure, he contracted a severe infection in March, for which he was hospitalized and has been battling ever since.
In November 2024, it was announced that Mason had undergone successful heart valve replacement surgery. At that time, Best Classic Bands reported, “Dave Mason has shared great news about the heart valve replacement surgery that he had on November 11, 2024. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wrote that it was a success and he is now ‘home with strong vitals after an overnight stay.’ He added that he was ‘so lucky to have caught this, as I was unknowingly on the brink of heart failure.’ He had originally disclosed the news of his ‘serious heart condition’ on September 23, that caused him to abruptly cancel his 2024 fall tour. At that time, during a routine appointment, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer revealed that doctors detected an issue that required immediate medical attention. In a post on November 4, the legend indicated that he would have the heart valve replacement surgery—the same that Mick Jagger had in 2019.”
Dave Mason in 2022
Mason released a new album, A Shade of Blues, on March 21, 2025, the singer-songwriter-guitarist’s first set composed entirely of blues material. It includes guest appearances by Joe Bonamassa, Michael McDonald and others, performing both original Mason songs and covers of songs originally performed by blues greats Albert King, Robert Johnson and Elmore James, as well as bluesy rearrangements of “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys,” two signature songs originally recorded by Traffic, a band in which Mason was at one time a core member. [It’s available in the U.S. here.]
Mason’s memoir, Only You Know and I Know, arrived September 10, 2024. The book marks the first time a member of Traffic has penned a memoir, offering fans a rare glimpse into the extraordinary life and career of one of music’s unsung legends.
From the book’s announcement: In Only You Know and I Know, Mason shares captivating tales from his remarkable rock ‘n’ roll journey, recounting the many extraordinary situations he found himself in throughout his illustrious career. From recording sessions with legendary acts such as the Rolling Stones on “Street Fighting Man” and Paul McCartney on the #1 single, “Listen to What the Man Said,” to his time spent in Fleetwood Mac and beyond, Mason’s memoir is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes stories and insights. It’s available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Filled with never-before-seen photographs, Only You Know and I Know delves into the highs and lows of Mason’s multifaceted career with candid storytelling and vivid anecdotes.
A co-founder of the classic rock band Traffic, Mason’s musical path started strong and only grew more significant over time. In addition to his renowned work as a revered guitar player and singer-songwriter (who penned “Feelin’ Alright,” one of rock’s most-covered anthems, when he was only 21), Mason, born May 10, 1946, has appeared on some of the most acclaimed recordings in music history, including George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album, the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man” and close friend Jimi Hendrix’s classic “All Along the Watchtower.” After leaving Traffic, Dave’s popularity exploded with the release of his debut solo album, Alone Together—marked by sell-out performances at Madison Square Garden.
“I was 22 years old [when I started doing sessions and solo work],” Mason , born May 10, 1946, told Best Classic Bands, “and what the hell do you know when you’re 22? There was no manual. I was just out there following my dream. It just happened that I was in a lot of places where things worked out for me.”
Related: Our interview with Dave Mason
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
Watch Mason perform “We Just Disagree” at Farm Aid in 1986
Mason’s recordings are available for purchase here.
9 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI’ve always liked Dave’s music and seen him many times throughout his career. My wife is an even bigger fan. It’s a shame that he feels that’s he’s got to be such a namedropper, at every opportunity, regarding his career, as the music should speak for itself. I was disappointed to also find that Dave is a bit of a crankapus, when my wife was getting her T-shirt signed at a show in recent years. I understand that some fans don’t understand boundaries, and that traveling on the road at his age is no picnic, but when you get to the point where you regard your fans as irritating, it may be time to stop — or at least stop doing signings and meet and greets.
I have always liked his music very much. My favorites songs of his are: “The Lonely One”, “Long Lost Friend” and “You can Lose it”. Songs that were not hits, but could have been if someone with ears…..
I saw the show in February. Great song selection and great supporting musicians. His voice is still strong and had a Master’s Class on guitar.
If it’s true that Paul McCartney had Mason play guitar on Wings’ “Listen to What the Man Said” that would be the second time he had a Dave Mason play on one of his big hits. Remember the name of the piccolo trumpet soloist on “Penny Lane”? Yep, David Mason.
Wonder how Steve Winwood feels about Mason calling his tour “Traffic Jam.” Anybody heard from him about it?
Dave Mason has many great songs on his own merit. But it is somewhat odd to be calling it “Traffic Jam Tour.” He could cover some of the iconic hits from Steve Winwood?
He has so many hits over the years and into the 1980;s, he stands in his own class. As long as the tour is not called Mr. Fantasy tour. Now a true fantasy tour would include Dave Mason, Capaldi and Winwood!
Melf… If he could pull that off with Capaldi involved, that would be interesting to say the least.
If you’re going to somehow, as Greg says, pull off a tour with Winwood, and Capaldi, you might as well go for it and include Chris Wood, to really do it right. Talk about a fantasy reunion!
went to school with his son in new jersey who was best friends with my brother. it was nice to known him to see many free concerts from his son backstage passes.