NJ Legend Southside Johnny Announces End of Touring: Health
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen performing “Having a Party” in 2019
John Lyon p/k/a Southside Johnny, who has led his band, the Asbury Jukes, since the early ’70s and has been referred to as the Grandfather of “the Jersey Sound,” has announced his retirement from touring, effective immediately. The news, shared on his various social media platforms on December 20, 2024, cited “ongoing health issues.” The musician, commonly referred to as simply “Southside,” turned 76 on Dec. 4. He had a New Year’s Eve date scheduled at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ. That performance has been cancelled.
The complete (and brief) announcement reads: “After a hugely successful 50-year run with his band Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, touring non-stop throughout the U.S. and overseas, ‘Southside Johnny’ Lyon has made the decision to retire from touring in order to manage ongoing health issues.”
The specific issues were not disclosed. In its reporting, the Asbury Park Press noted that the performer left the stage at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., on Dec. 14 midway through his set. The band finished the concert without him. The publication also wrote that Southside was unable to finish a performance at the renowned Asbury Park venue the Stone Pony last February and later postponed a pair of shows in New York.
Lyon, born on December 4, 1948, in Neptune, NJ, graduated high school with two future members of the E Street Band, Garry Tallent and Vini Lopez. He first achieved prominence as the co-leader, with Steven Van Zandt, of the Asbury Jukes. A string of albums for Epic Records in the mid-’70s, all produced by Van Zandt, followed on the heels of the leader of “the Jersey Sound,” Bruce Springsteen. Their debut album, 1976’s I Don’t Want to Go Home, included three tracks written by Van Zandt, including the title track.
Springsteen contributed a pair: “The Fever” and “You Mean So Much to Me.” Guest musicians include Ronnie Spector and the E Street Band’s Clarence Clemons.
Watch Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen perform the Sam Cooke song “Having a Party” in 2019
Related: Our review of a 2024 reissue of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes live
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSaw Southside Johnny and the band in the UK many times down the decades, from the Rainbow in London to smaller venues at Bilston, Shrewsbury and even solo in Glasgow. Great live performer. Happy retirement, Southside.
I was drinking at the Buffalo Roadhouse in the West Village with Johnny. He was the “technical advisor” on the cult movie about the ’50’s called “Eddie and the Cruisers”.
He was happy; it was nearly 50 years ago.