Fleetwood Mac and Traffic Rock Veteran Ends Touring Career Over Health Struggles
via G Podboy / YouTube
Retirement Announcement
Dave Mason, the guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for his work with Traffic and a short period with Fleetwood Mac, has decided to stop touring because of health concerns. The news was shared on his official social media pages on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
“Legendary icon Dave Mason, aged 79, has officially announced his retirement from touring, closing the curtain on 60 remarkable years of rock ’n’ roll,” the statement read. “He cites ongoing health challenges as the reason behind this difficult decision.” Mason plans to stay creative even without the road, focusing on a children’s book and releasing archival recordings.
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Early Career and Fleetwood Mac
Mason first became known in the late 1960s as a founding member of Traffic, writing songs like “Feelin’ Alright,” later made famous by Joe Cocker. He built a strong solo career with tracks such as “We Just Disagree” and “Hole in My Shoe.”
In the mid-1990s, Mason joined Fleetwood Mac to record the 1995 album Time. “We did an album called ‘Time,’ which unfortunately never really got promoted by Warner Bros. at all,” he said in a 2014 interview. “They let it sort of die. And it lasted two years, and it was over.”
Life in America and Health Battles
Originally from England, Mason moved to the United States in 1971, later settling in Carson City, Nevada, near Lake Tahoe. His later years were marked by health struggles. In 2024, doctors discovered a serious heart condition during a routine checkup, leading to heart valve replacement surgery. Though the operation succeeded, a severe infection followed, forcing him to cancel his 2025 tour.
Despite leaving the stage, Mason’s influence remains strong. Over six decades he collaborated with Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, George Harrison, and Michael Jackson. “He retires from touring a happy man with a heart full of gratitude,” the statement said.
