Southside Johnny Retires From Touring, Cancels NYE Show At Count Basie

RED BANK, NJ — Southside Johnny has retired from touring, ending a 50-year run with his band the Asbury Jukes and canceling his annual New Year’s Eve show at Count Basie.

The retirement announcement came as a surprise to many on Friday afternoon. In an online statement, the band said Southside Johnny chose to retire from touring “in order to manage ongoing health issues.”

This will be one of the first years the band does not perform at the Basie's NYE show.

“Johnny Lyon and the Asbury Jukes are an integral part of the Basie Center’s history and the history of music here at the Jersey Shore,” Count Basie said. “While we’re sad we won’t be seeing them this New Year’s Eve, everyone at the Count Basie Center is forever grateful for the hundreds of moments that he and his bandmates have created on our stages.”

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes have performed at the Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theater 19 times on New Year’s Eve, according to a report from RedBankGreen.

The band was started by Southside Johnny Lyon and Little Steven Van Zandt (of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and “The Sopranos”) in 1976. Since then, they've released multiple albums, songs, and toured throughout the country.

Going forward, all live touring dates have been canceled, according to the Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes website.

For those with tickets to Count Basie’s NYE show, tickets will be refunded via your point of purchase.

To learn more, you can visit the Count Basie website.