Jeff Lynne Opens Final 2025 UK Tour With Birmingham Show
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Jeff Lynne revealing his broken hand that prevented him from playing guitar at his July 5, 2025, concert in Birmingham.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO, as the band has been known for a decade, began their final U.K. tour on Saturday (July 5, 2025), with the first of five concerts. The hometown show, at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, comes just over eight months after the maestro completed the much-longer U.S. leg of his “Over and Out” tour. For this first concert, Lynne made several adjustments: he’s unable to play guitar due to a broken hand he suffered as a passenger in a taxi that slammed on its brakes to avoid an accident. So, like many of his avid fans, he occasionally played air guitar. In addition, he slightly tweaked the hit-filled 21-song setlist. Notably, he included a pair of songs from his time with the supergroup, the Traveling Wilburys. As he has done in the past, opening act Dhani Harrison joined his host for a pair of songs, “Handle With Care” and “End of the Line,” subbing for his late father, George.
Lynne, who turned 77 on December 30, 2024, does very little speaking during his performances. However, before the evening’s third song, “Do Ya,” he told the crowd about his broken hand that prevented him from playing guitar. “I’ve had a guitar in my hand my entire life, but not tonight,” he said. “But nothing could keep me away from you,” he said. As the crowd roared, he offered his trademark thumbs up with both hands.
Lynne’s musical director for his tours is Mike Stevens, who leads the very tight band. After playing a second show in Birmingham, and the first of two in Manchester, the July 10 second show in Manchester was abruptly cancelled minutes before its scheduled start. The brief tour was scheduled to conclude in London, where they were to headline a Hyde Park concert on July 13. (Lynne canceled it on July 12.) That star-studded show was to also feature the Doobie Brothers, Steve Winwood and Harrison.
The main set’s closing number was ELO’s highest-charting hit in the U.K. and U.S., “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
The hometown audience burst into applause, seemingly shaking the arena’s rafters, for what has become Lynne’s closing number, “Mr. Blue Sky.”
Thank you to Ian Coulton for the clips (and Matt Cotterill for the early ones). Best Classic Bands will update this story with more.
Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Utilita Arena, Birmingham, U.K., July 5, 2025
One More Time
Evil Woman
Do Ya
Showdown
Last Train to London
Steppin’ Out
Rockaria!
10538 Overture
Strange Magic
Sweet Talkin’ Woman
Handle With Care
End of the Line
Can’t Get It Out of My Head
Fire on High
Livin’ Thing
Telephone Line
All Over the World
Turn to Stone
Shine a Little Love
Don’t Bring Me Down
Encore
Mr. Blue Sky
Related: Our review of the final U.S. performance of Jeff Lynne’s ELO, on Oct. 29, 2024
Tickets for the remaining dates are available here and here. ELO recordings are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
8 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationA fantastic night and end of an era. Jeff Lynne has visibly aged since seeing him at Wembley in his Out of the Blue concert but he didn’t disappoint. Fabulous band and a great night. Thank you Jeff et al!
Jeff Lynne and his band are amazing! I attended the site in Portland, Oregon and was delighted, inspired and totally in love with his music so over again.
Loved his music for so long! Sad to see him looking slightly frail, a little confused. /but in my mind and heart he and his style will live forever! God Bless Jeff Lynne.
Thank you so much for posting these clips as a Brummie and longtime fan I was gutted not to be able to attend, but these clips have bought me such pleasure. Fab days as a kid pretending to be them on stage with my 2 brothers and friends all playing air guitar
Jeff Lynne my life long hero – a true super star – God bless you Jeff & may you long continue.
Fabulous night , couldn’t believe my fortune to be able at the age of 70 to experience with my daughter who I named Emma Lynne her surname beginning with the letter O . Named when she was born in 1980 . Me being a fan of the music we spent years, along with her brother, listening to tapes and CD’s .. The atmosphere was vibrating and energetic, the music , as ever exhilarating.. THANK YOU , THANK YOU , MR JEFF LYNNE for the most wonderful experience, sharing your love of music and sound
My daughter and I saw Jeff in Saint Paul, Minnesota on September 30th, 2024. Had front row seats 1 and 2, slight off center stage. Best seats we ever had. This was the very best concert we ever saw. Thank you Jeff for the experience of a lifetime. Hope to see you one more time, if possible.
I travelled from the Canary Islands to see ELO again. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was great to see an old class mate become so famous. Well done Jeff, you deserve all the applause you received. Great show.