Tom Jones continues to prove that age is just a number as he arrived in Brisbane on Saturday, gearing up for his highly anticipated performance at the Byron Bay Blues Festival.
At 84, the legendary singer is touring across Australia, having made it clear last year that retirement is not on his agenda anytime soon.
Dressed casually in a black checkered flannel shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap, Tom appeared slightly weary after his flight but remained in good spirits as he made his way through the terminal. Having spent time in Perth earlier this week, he sported a healthy tan, suggesting he’s been soaking up the Australian sunshine.
His next stop is A Day on the Green in New South Wales, followed by concerts in Adelaide and Melbourne. The Sex Bomb singer will continue his tour throughout March and April, including a performance at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, before wrapping things up in Sydney at the Aware Super Theatre on April 4th.
Despite his decades-long career, Tom has no intention of stepping away from the stage. Last year, he admitted that while he no longer moves around the stage as much as he once did, he’ll only consider retiring if his voice begins to falter.
In 2022, Tom underwent his second hip replacement, following his first surgery in 2017. Though he has adapted his performances—often seated for most of his shows—he still delivers a powerful vocal performance, standing for key moments in his set.
“The only way I’d retire is if I couldn’t sing anymore,” he shared with Metro. “If something went wrong with my voice, I wouldn’t want to continue at anything less than full strength. I’d never want to shortchange an audience.”
Reflecting on his career, he acknowledged that while he can’t physically perform the way he did in his youth, his focus is now on delivering the best possible vocal performance. “When you’re young, you’re full of energy and give it everything. Now, I put all that energy into my singing.”
As for the future, Tom has even entertained the idea of a hologram taking his place one day—though he hopes that moment is far off. Until then, he remains committed to giving fans the live experience they love, proving that his legendary status is well-earned.
