Richard Marx joins Rod Stewart on farewell tour and turns shows into historic meetings

The One Last Time tour, announced by Rod Stewart as his farewell to major international travel, gained a special reinforcement: Richard Marx. The American singer-songwriter, known for romantic ballads that marked the 1980s and 1990s, was confirmed as a guest on selected dates on the British star's North American schedule.

The partnership has already had recent performances in Phoenix, on June 8th, and at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, in Los Angeles, on June 10th. The joint agenda still follows highly prestigious locations, with dates scheduled until after August and the presentation listed for September 5th.

The presence of Richard Marx helps to give an even more symbolic tone to this phase of Rod Stewart. More than a sequence of final shows, the tour has been treated as a great celebration of the British singer's career, bringing together artists who dialogue with different moments of his career: classic rock, adult pop, romantic ballads, standards and the emotional connection with friends, family and generational partners.

The rapprochement between the two artists also reached the studio. In January, Richard Marx released the album After Hours, a project dedicated to jazz, great American songs and the big band format. One of the tracks on the album is "Young at Heart", recorded as a duet with Rod Stewart.

According to Marx, the idea was born after an informal meeting in London. Rod Stewart suggested that they record together and, the next day, confirmed the invitation by message, indicating the song that would end up on the album. The project was recorded live in the studio, with an orchestra of 24 musicians, without overdubs, seeking a more organic, classic and elegant sound.

The choice of "Young at Heart" has special weight. The song, associated with the repertoire immortalized by Frank Sinatra, speaks directly to a very important phase of Rod Stewart's career: the albums dedicated to the Great American Songbook, which were hugely successful in the 2000s. Richard Marx, in fact, has already stated that Stewart's standards albums served as a reference for his own dive into this universe.

This connection makes Marx's participation in the tour even more coherent. On the one hand, he represents adult radio pop and emotional ballads. On the other hand, you find in Rod Stewart an interpreter who has always moved naturally between rock, soul, pop, standards and reinterpretations, supported by one of the most recognizable voices in British music.

The One Last Time tour has also brought together other important guests. In 2026, in addition to Richard Marx, the agenda mentions Howard Jones on selected dates. In 2025, the North American stage featured Cheap Trick, a band linked to power pop and arena rock, reinforcing the rockier side of Stewart's history.

One of the most symbolic moments of this phase took place at Glastonbury, in 2025, when Rod Stewart occupied the traditional space reserved for the festival's legends and welcomed guests such as Ronnie Wood, Lulu and Mick Hucknall. Ronnie Wood, Stewart's historic partner in Faces and member of the Rolling Stones, reinforced the singer's connection with British rock from the 1970s.

The tour also had family moments. In February, Ruby Stewart, Rod's daughter, took the stage during a show in Florida to sing "Forever Young" alongside her father. The scene summed up the spirit of this phase: farewell, memory, affection and passing on a legacy.

Despite the name One Last Time, Rod Stewart has made a point of making it clear that he is not retiring permanently. The singer indicates that he intends to abandon the format of large international tours, with long trips around the world, but he does not intend to move away from music or the stage.

At 81 years old, Stewart seems to reorganize his own live history. The presence of Richard Marx reinforces this climate of celebration: it is not just a farewell, but a meeting between artists who helped shape different phases of popular music and who continue to dialogue with generations of fans.