The 70-year-old British entertainer, revealing his plans at a gala New York event, said he planned to “go out with a bang” with a global tour that will open in September and last through 2021.

“It will be the last time that I’m touring and traveling the world, because my priorities have changed,” John told several hundred journalists and guests after a mini-concert and virtual reality presentation about his career.

Saying he has had an “amazing life and amazing career,” he added: “My priorities now are my children and my husband and my family.”

John, who in the 1980s became one of the first openly gay major celebrities, has two children with his husband, Canadian filmmaker and former advertising executive David Furnish.

The “Rocket Man” said he had no health concerns and would stay active, hoping to record more albums and write further musicals.

“I will be creative, hopefully, until the day I die,” he said.

John, who closes his latest extravagant Las Vegas residency in May, said he was also open to concerts after the tour but that they would likely only be in his native Britain.

Produced by Koh Mr SaxMan and the Sound of Siam and performed by 20 musicians, “Open to the New Shades” comprises 13 songs that reflect the artists’ impressions of he kingdom as a melting pot of history, culture and unique ways of life.

“Music is a universal language. Through these 13 beautiful songs, visitors from around the world regardless of culture or previous experience, will feel the artists’ impressions of Thailand’s amazing attractions, food and ways of life, and will want to explore further,” said TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

The concept of the album reflects another kind of “Thainess” – the unique characteristic of the Thai people to welcome visitors from around the world. It will encourage visitors to discover new perspectives in existing attractions, or indulge in experiences in new tourist attractions.

TAT has sub-themes reflecting this, among them  gastronomy, nature and beaches, arts and crafts, culture, and way of life.

The British pop star, 70, one of the world’s best-selling artists, said he will make an announcement at 1730 GMT. He scheduled a press event in New York.

British media reports suggested the music legend could be about to quit touring, but speculation was shifting after he issued a series of cryptic tweets, including: “A wrinkle in time. Past meets present.”

A video on his social media accounts carried a clear valedictory feel, with scenes from his life set to his early hit “Your Song.”

The video starts with newspaper clippings from his US debut in 1970 at West Hollywood’s Troubadour club, where the little-known pianist electrified the audience and rocketed onto the fast-track to stardom, and closes with the artist playfully looking through a virtual reality headset.

John “continues to be a creative force moving faster than the speed of culture,” the video said.

“Elton is embarking on the next phase of his creative journey. And it will be every bit as surprising and powerful as his first performances almost 50 years ago.

“Find out what’s next.”

Decades as a top star

John, often known as Sir Elton after a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II, has generated decades of hits such as “I’m Still Standing,” “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”

His style brought together the old-school rhythm-and-blues piano of early rock ‘n’ roll with Gospel influences as well as a solid grounding in classical music.

John remains one of the world’s most successful artists both in recorded and live music — with his long-running residency becoming a major attraction in Las Vegas.

The pop legend’s latest Las Vegas show — “The Million Dollar Piano,” on which he performs with an elaborate display through dozens of video screens — is set to close on May 19 at Caesar’s Palace.

The residency, which opened in 2011 and will end after 207 shows, follows his separate 243-concert “The Red Piano” from 2004 to 2009.

While John has appeared to be in good health, last year he canceled dates in South America after he contracted a bacterial infection. He went on to keep dates in Europe and Australia.

He has often spoken of a desire to spend more time with family as he raises his two children with his husband, Canadian filmmaker and former advertising executive David Furnish.

John, who first publicly described himself as bisexual in 1976, in the 1980s became one of the most visible gay celebrities, helping bring more mainstream attention to the struggle for LGBT equality.

The artist has also earned a fortune as a composer for musicals including blockbuster “The Lion King,” “Billy Elliot” and the upcoming adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Forbes magazine last year ranked him as the 26th highest-earning celebrity, earning $60 million over the previous year.

After struggles in the past with addiction and depression, John’s last studio album, “Wonderful Crazy Night,” carried a palpable sense of joy. Last year he put out a greatest hits collection dubbed “Diamonds.”

South Korean boy band Astro will be in Bangkok to tease and please the local girls, performing mini-concerts at Show DC’s Ultra Arena on March 3 at 1 and 7pm. JinJin, MJ, Rocky, Cha Eunwoo, Yoon Sanha and Moon Bin will let the fans get up close if they have passes worth Bt3,000 to Bt5,500 from http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com or (02) 262 3456. Learn more at http://www.Facebook.com/bectero or http://www.BECTero.com.

Celine set for summer

Canadian superstar Celine Dion returns to Thailand for a long-awaited concert at Impact Arena next July 23. Count on hearing “My Heart Will Go On”, “All By Myself”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “That’s the Way It Is” and “I Surrender”. Seats go on sale on February 3 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Two shows for Amp & Sha

Saowalak “Amp” Leelabut and Marsha “Sha” Vadhanapanich will share the stage at Siam Paragon’s Royal Paragon Hall on February 3 at 7pm and February 4 at 5pm. They’ll be singing hits spanning careers that have endured for more than 30 years. Seats cost Bt1,500 to Bt4,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Shigeru’s in town

Thais know Shigeru Matsuzaki best for his song “Kimiga Ireba Sorede Ii” and can finally get to see him in person – for free – at Japan Expo Thailand, continuing at CentralWorld through Sunday. The 69-year-old singer-actor is also known for his soundtrack to the video game Katamari Damacy and for playing the title character in the film version of Space Adventure Cobra. Find out more at http://www.JapanExpoThailand.com and http://www.GYUCreative.com.

Yaks get own festival

Promoter Yuthana “Ted” Boonorm’s Yak Fest makes its debut at the Ocean Khao Yai on February 24. The lifestyle festival will have a giant toy balloon and separate “villages” dedicated to music, organic food and more. Onstage will be Lipta, Thaitanium, Rap is Now, Greasy Café, Rasmee Isan Soul, Gene Kasidit, Aof Pongsak, Big Ass, the Toy and Boom Boom Cash. Passes cost Bt2,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456. Get the details at http://www.Facebook.com/yakfestival.

The metal band, whose founding member and key songwriter Jeff Hanneman died in 2013, said it was retiring after nearly 37 years of making “the most brutal, breathtakingly aggressive, all-hell’s-a-breaking-loose music ever created.”

“The age of Slayer, one of the greatest thrash/metal/punk bands of this or any age, is coming to an end,” the group immodestly wrote on Instagram.

The band said it would start its farewell tour on May 10 in San Diego, playing across the United States and Canada before a final date on June 20 in Austin, Texas.

Emerging in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, Slayer wrote ferocious metal songs driven by minor keys, intense bursts of speed and gloomy guitar riffs.

Yet Slayer distinguished itself for the extent to which it embraced the dark side, with lyrics that evoked Satanism and stages decked out with upside-down crucifixes under blood-red lights.

Slayer frequently raised controversy and faced allegations of Nazi sympathies, which the band denied, for its song “Angel of Death” about human experiments in a concentration camp.

It also came under fire for its 2006 song “Jihad,” which related the September 11 attacks from the viewpoint of the Al-Qaeda assailants and quoted plot leader Mohammed Atta.

Slayer released its 12th and apparently final album in 2015, “Repentless.” The album was its first without guitarist Hanneman, who died from a flesh-eating bacteria after he was bitten by a spider while taking a bath.

The group more recently raised eyebrows when its frontman, Chilean-born Tom Araya, posted a picture of President Donald Trump, although he said the gesture was a provocation rather than a statement of support.

Slayer is considered one of the four founding bands of thrash metal, the subgenre marked by dark aggression. The others are Anthrax — which will join Slayer on the final tour — as well as Megadeth and Metallica, which has been by far the most commercially successful.

Featuring JinJin, MJ, Rocky, Cha Eun-woo, Yoon San-ha, and Moon Bin, Astro will perform their new and old hits in the mini live show and also give their fans a chance to meet them close up. There will be two shows at 1pm and 7pm and ticket prices range from Bt3,000 to Bt5,500, including a poster and the opportunity to high-five the members.

Fans also have the chance to join an autograph session, take selfies with the band members, as well as join a special campaign with Facebook.com/bectero to win a seat at the press conference.

Find out more at (02) 262 3838 or visit http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

Blessed with a beautifully distinctive voice, the New Yorker uses an artful blend of blues, bebop, swing and soul with playful rhythmic expressiveness. Walker is often compared to Cassandra Wilson, Nina Simone and Betty Carter in style and tone but has developed her own unique sound. Her voice has been described as “hypnotic, sexy and swinging”. Career highlights include the opening act on tour with jazz vocalist Rene Marie, Chris Botti, George Benson, Spyro Gyra, Terrell Stafford and Wynton Marsalis.

In early 2002, Walker released her debut recording, “Slow Down”, to critical acclaim. The recording received a Washington Area Musician Association (WAMA) Award nomination for “Best Jazz and Debut Album of the Year” and also a national nomination for “Best Independent Jazz Vocal Album of the Year.” Before Walker moved to New York, she lived in Washington DC area and the Washington Post regularly featured her on its list of “Top Ten Performers to See Live.”

At The Living Room, the singer will perform with the Randy Cannon Group featuring Cannon on piano, drummer Willard Dyson and Thailand’s leading bass players, Therdsak Wongvichien and Alex Sergeenko.

Michelle Walker and the Randy Cannon Group will perform every Tuesday to Thursday from 9.15pm and on Friday and Saturday from 8.45.

Book a table at (02) 6498353 or email dining.sgs@luxurycollection.com

The Los Angeles-based outfit is currently on the Asian leg of their tour, with dates over the next week in China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Singapore in addition to Bangkok..

“Foster the People is one of the best indie rock bands to come in Thailand and I would really like Thais to experience their sound, says Smitthi Bhiraleus, founder, chief executive and managing director of Very Inc.

Foster the People was founded by Mark Foster in Los Angeles in 2009. The group achieved success with the 2011 release of their debut album “Torches”. That spawned the single “Pumped Up Kicks,” which was declared “the year’s anthem” by SPIN, as well as the chart-topping singles “Don’t Stop (Colour on the Walls)”, “Houdini”, and “Helena Beat”. Foster the People garnered three Grammy nominations for their monumental debut, including Best Alternative Album, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Pumped Up Kicks” and Best Short Form Music Video for “Houdini.”

In 2014, Foster the People released its sophomore album, “Supermodel”, which reached number three on the US album chart. Both cuts “Coming of Age” and “Best Friend” made it into the Top Ten of the alternative chart.

The band, which features lead vocalist Foster, lead guitarist Sean Cimino, keyboardist Isom Innis, and drummer Mark Pontius, is now playing songs from its latest and third album, “Sacred Hearts Club” which draws upon soul, dance, and electronic genres while maintaining their signature indie pop sound. The lyrics address themes of love, politics, fame, and youth, and, similar to their previous albums, are often at odds with the upbeat musical production.

Tickets cost Bt2,600 at http://www.TicketMelon.com.

This year, Kolour in the Park promises to be the most impressive event to date, dedicated to delivering an immersive experience combining music, art, sport, interactive daytime activities and top class night-time party vibes.

The line-up showcases a broader variety of music including more alternative live performance acts, while remaining a strong lead in house and techno. Already signed up for the show are Mat.Joe, a German duo known for their crispy house beats paired with rhythmic soul and hip hop elements, Nakadia, the Berlin-based Thai techno icon, Pomo, the Canadian multi-instrumentalist and producer who makes electronic beats influenced by house, 70s and 80s funk, and Youngr, a solo outlet for Dario Darnell, a songwriter, producer, instrumentalist, and vocalist who makes eclectic, slightly left-of-centrw house music.

Participants will get to enjoy Kolour lifestyle activities including lake swimming, games, arts & crafts and free massages. The open layout at Thai Wake Park will be turned into a festival ground with two stages – a new 180-degree formation with multiple platforms where fans can experience the main acts from different heights and interact, and a second lake side stage.

Kolour in the Park is one of many under the Kolour event series, with one single goal and commitment in mind: to offer fresh new sounds and unique party experiences to audiences in Thailand, while growing the House and Techno music genre fan base. The multicultural team comprising of both local Thais and foreign Bangkok residents from various backgrounds and nationalities come together to exchange and leverage their entertainment, music and nightlife experiences and reinforce their position as the biggest and only dedicated event organiser focusing on house, techno, and electronica music genre. Following Kolour in the Park, the Kolour team will also be working on exclusive parties with underground concepts, including Kolour Warehouse, Kolour Live, Kolour Beachside and Kolour Sundays.

Follow the latest updates at http://www.KolourInThePark.com.

The autopsy report says the 66-year-old Petty had fentanyl, oxycodone, temazepam and other drugs in his system when he died of cardiac arrest.

Petty’s wife Dana and daughter Adria said the medical examiner told them he “passed away due to an accidental drug overdose as a result of taking a variety of medications.”

“Unfortunately Tom’s body suffered from many serious ailments including emphysema, knee problems and most significantly a fractured hip,” they said in a statement on his band’s Facebook page.

Petty, the Southern-accented rocker whose classic melodies and dark storytelling created 40 years of hit songs, died shortly after wrapping up a tour celebrating 40 years of his band The Heartbreakers.

His family explained he was on tour, even with the fractured hip, when his condition worsened.

“On the day he died he was informed his hip had graduated to a full-on break and it is our feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his overuse of medication,” they said.

The analysis bore striking similarities to the death in 2016 of pop icon Prince, attributed to an accidental dose of painkillers.

“As a family, we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives,” the Petty family statement said.

“Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.”

Petty is known for such hits as “American Girl,” “I Won’t Back Down,” and “Free Fallin’.” He sold 80 million records during his career.

The singer and guitarist — a three-time Grammy winner recognizable for his shoulder-length blonde hair — struggled with depression most of his life and was at one time addicted to heroin.

In his later years, his only substance was marijuana and he calmed himself with transcendental meditation.