Premature Retirements: Never Say Never Again

As jobs go, pop star would appear to be the one gig you can never truly quit. But a long list of artists have done just that, only to jump back into the picture. Could it be that they realised having your line of work be as a rock 'n' roll god really isn't so bad after all? Or do they wisely conclude that it is the only thing that they can do reasonably well? Decide for yourselves with this roll call of premature retirees.

Lily Allen
Called It Quits: 2009
In March 2010, the woman who gave us 'Smile' finally ended months of speculation and confirmed her inferences of the previous year that she had indeed bowed out of the musical arena to pursue fashion projects and possibly write a musical. However, within days it was also announced that Allen will support Jay-Z at his London shows this summer. How long before the temptation to make a third album becomes too great to resist?

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Garth Brooks
Called It Quits: 2000
"I need to be home with my kids," said country music's biggest-selling recording artist, as he announced he was hanging up his black cowboy hat for good. Millions of women of a certain age wept openly, but they soon consoled themselves with a series of "lost" recordings and compilations before Brooks returned to the live arena in 2007 and officially "un-retired" in 2009 by launching a five-year commitment for a show in Las Vegas.

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The Who
Called It Quits: 1982
After sorting out his drink and drug problems in early 1982, Pete Townshend concluded that life on the road wasn't good for his health, and embarked on the Who's 'Farewell Tour' later that year, promising they would be only a studio band from then on. Live Aid in 1985 proved too big a lure to ignore, however, and after performing in Philadelphia they reformed for several other reunion gigs in the following years before touring again in 1999.

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Frank Sinatra
Called it quits: 1971
The man who pretty much invented the concept of the showbiz comeback stunned his fans when he announced he was calling it a day at age 55. Within two years Sinatra was back, however, with a television special and album, both entitled 'Ol Blue Eyes Is Back'. It was like he'd never been away. Because, well, he hadn't.

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50 Cent
Called It Quits: 2007
"If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer write music," the bullet-scarred rapper told hip-hop Web site SOHH.com. "I won't put out any more solo albums." West's 'Graduation' album, released on the same day as 50 Cent's third collection 'Curtis', duly sold more, but only a year later Fiddy announced that a fourth album, 'Before I Self Destruct,' was ready for release in November 2008. No one mentioned the retirement promise-- well, would you want to make him angry?

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Little Richard
Called It Quits: 1957
While at the height of his fame, the wildly flamboyant rock 'n' roll pioneer was all shook up by a scary plane flight while on tour in Australia, and concluded that the Man Upstairs was trying to tell him something. So Little Richard announced his intention to quit rocking and rolling to serve God. He threw an $8,000 ring into the river in Sydney to prove he was serious. He became a preacher and sang only gospel until the Merseybeat boom of the early 1960s persuaded him to perform the devil's music once more.

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Cher
Called It Quits: 2005
There was speculation that the never knowingly underdressed pop veteran was suffering from depression when she bowed out with her 'Farewell' tour a few years back. However, there's nothing like a multimillion-dollar offer of a Vegas residency to make it all seem worthwhile again, and Cher duly announced her return to the stage in February 2008. Do you believe in life after love? Well. If the price is right ...

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Manic Street Preachers
(Promised to) Call It Quits: 1991
The Welsh firebrands vowed they would make "one great album then split up, throw it all away." After releasing 'Generation Terrorists' in 1992, however, the Manics wisely decided they really weren't bad at this rock 'n' roll lark, and even better at winding people up. Eighteen years on, they're currently recording album number 10.

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Elton John
Called It Quits: 1977
Having revealed the not altogether stunning news that he was bisexual, the artist formerly known as Reg Dwight secluded himself inside his mansion, telling the world he would no longer perform. However, despite a brief split with lyricist and right-hand man Bernie Taupin, John duly released another album, 'A Single Man,' the following year and soon afterward returned to the live arena in 1979 as the first Western pop star to tour the Soviet Union.

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David Bowie
Called It Quits: 1973
After several tours in the day-glo persona of space-age rock wunderkind Ziggy Stardust, Bowie left his adoring public aghast at London's Hammersmith Odeon. He announced, "Not only is it the last show of the tour, but it's the last show that we'll ever do. Thank you." He meant, of course, the last show as Ziggy. Bowie himself would carry on in numerous future guises. Not that he felt the need to clarify that statement at the time.

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The Eagles
Called It Quits: 1980
Before their acrimonious split, the band was barely on speaking terms. Singer/drummer Don Henley told the media the Eagles would reunite only "when hell freezes over." Fourteen years and several underwhelming solo careers later, they re-formed for a tour, recording a live album to commemorate the occasion. Its title? 'Hell Freezes Over.'

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Jay-Z
Called It Quits: 2003
"I've done it all," said the hip-hop superstar on the release of 'The Black Album,' saying it would be the last album he ever made. However, after a world tour and some work with future bride Beyoncé, he was soon recording new tracks for a best-of compilation before going back into the studio to record 'Kingdom Come' in 2006. He later admitted to Entertainment Weekly, "It was the worst retirement in history."

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Kiss
Called It Quits: 2000
Never averse to a publicity stunt, the re-masked and reunited original lineup of Kiss must have sold a few extra tickets when they announced a farewell tour only four years after going back into their trademark makeup and reuniting their original foursome. Two years later, though, the retirement was postponed indefinitely. It turned out only original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss would actually be saying farewell, and they had little choice in the matter. Ruthless stuff, but we all know where nice guys finish, right?

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Status Quo
Called It Quits: 1984
Two years after celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band, the British boogie maestros named their 1984 tour 'End of the Road'. Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt and Co. claimed these would be their last-ever shows. Yet the tears had barely dried on all those denim jackets when Status Quo returned to the stage to open Live Aid the following summer. They're still touring regularly now, and the golden anniversary is only two years away.

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Ozzy Osbourne
Called It Quits: 1992
A tired and emotional Prince of Darkness told his subjects he was putting his fake fangs in a glass of Polident once and for all and playing no more shows after the series of dates he called 'No More Tours.' To no one's great surprise, Ozzy returned to the live arena in 1995, with a similarly well-named tour. He called it 'Retirement Sucks.'