British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park have announced their first headliner for the 2025 series of concerts that will take place in the capital through June and July next year. Jeff Lynne’s ELO will play their final ever show at Hyde Park in London on 13 July. This follows the band’s current and highly appraised Over And Out tour currently running in the US.
In his press release associated with the announcement, Lynne said: “My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014. It seems like the perfect place to do our final show. We couldn’t be more excited to share this special night in London with our UK fans. As the song goes, ‘We’re gonna do it one more time!’”
BST Hyde Park (Kalpesh Patel)
ELO were formed by Lynne, Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan in 1970; their popularity rising through the decade and peaking with the release of double album Out Of The Blue in 1977. The iconic Mr Blue Sky from that album remains of course a staple ingredient on music radio the world over.
Following the more disco influenced Discovery in 1979 and the science fiction infused concept album Time in 1981, interest waned in the band as post punk and new romantic acts dominated the charts and Jeff Lynne effectively dissolved the group in 1986.
Lynne went on to be a hugely successful producer and member of supergroup The Travelling Wilburys with George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison.
Whilst Lynne chose to put ELO firmly in his rear- view mirror, Bev Bevan kept the flame alive in the form of ELO Part II (latterly The Orchestra), who, as well as Bevan, had ELO violinist Nik Kaminsky, cellist Hugh McDowell and bassist Kelly Groucutt in the lineup. ELO Part II had some success, but without Lynne in the band could sadly only ever be a poor imitation of their former selves.
Lynne briefly re-energised the ELO name in 2001 with the recording of a new album, Zoom, though it mainly featured guest musicians and the only other original member of the band who appeared on the record was keys player Richard Tandy. Zoom received decent reviews, but did not ignite the public’s enthusiasm for a reformation of ELO and plans for a tour were scrapped.
Twelve long years followed. The public may not have been ready for a return of ELO at the beginning of the millennium, but they certainly were when Lynne re-emerged once again with Richard Tandy at a fund raiser for the BBC’s Children In Need appeal in 2013.
Chris Evans, then a Radio 2 DJ, followed the Children in Need performance by asking his listeners if they wanted to see ELO perform at Radio 2’s Festival in a Day in Hyde Park. The answer was a resounding yes. All 50,000 tickets for the event on 14 September 2014 sold out in 15 minutes. Jeff Lynne’s ELO as the new project was now called once again saw Lynne paired with Richard Tandy, plus backing by Take That’s band from the Children in Need concert, led by musical director Mike Stevens. The new band were also joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
The Hyde Park performance was a huge success, leading to new recorded material (albums Alone In The Universe in 2015 and From Out Of Nowhere in 2019) and a series of sold out concerts all over the world. Lynne confirmed that the current US tour would see his final live performances in North America, but with an absence of UK dates being announced, this left his home audience in fear of missing out. The 2025 BST appearance changes all that, though it is unclear at this stage whether there will be any other UK or European dates announced in support of Lynne’s final UK performance in Hyde Park.
Jeff Lynne of Jeff Lynne’s ELO performing at the O2 Arena, London on 17th October 2018 (Simon Reed)
One thing that is certain is that Lynne will not be performing with Richard Tandy as ELO’s keyboard wizard sadly passed away earlier this year. Paying tribute, Lynne said: “He was a remarkable musician and friend and I’ll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together.”
Jim King, CEO of European festivals at AEG Presents, said of Lynne’s appearance at BST 2025: “Jeff Lynne’s ELO are loved the world over. The live shows are nothing short of extraordinary and a testament to the incredible catalogue of hits we’ve enjoyed for over 50 years. Hosting their final performance at BST Hyde Park is a true honour. We’re excited to be part of this special moment in music history.”
BST presale goes live at 10am BST on Wednesday 23 October 2024. Access to the presale can be obtained via the BST website.
Tickets go on general sale at 9am BST on Friday 25 October 2024.
VIP tickets, hospitality packages and payment plans are available.
For more information, visit bst-hydepark.com/events/jeff-lynnes-elo-sunday-13-july
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