Jeff Lynne Pushes Through Injury to Kick Off ELO’s Farewell Tour in Birmingham

Birmingham, UK – July 5, 2025 — When the lights went down and the cheers rose up at the Utilita Arena, no one expected what came next: Jeff Lynne, 77, walked onstage with a broken hand—but refused to cancel the show.

The iconic frontman of Electric Light Orchestra opened the first night of the “Over and Out Tour” in his hometown of Birmingham without his guitar, but with all the heart and soul fans have come to love. Despite the injury to his left hand—rumored to be the result of a run-in with a taxi door—Lynne powered through an unforgettable 22-song set, proving once again that music always comes first.

“I’ve had a guitar in my hand all my life,” Lynne told the crowd, “but not tonight.”
The audience erupted in support as he added, “Nothing would keep me away from you.”

And he meant it. Backed by a stellar band and glowing visuals, the night was a celebration of decades of genre-defining music. The set featured a generous helping of ELO classics like “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Evil Woman,” and “Telephone Line,” along with “Do Ya” from his earlier band, The Move.

One of the night’s most emotional highlights came when Dhani Harrison—son of the late George Harrison—joined Lynne onstage for two Traveling Wilburys tributes: “Handle With Care” and “End of the Line.” It was a full-circle moment for Lynne, who co-founded the supergroup with George, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison.

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The Birmingham show marked the beginning of a short but historic goodbye tour for ELO, with just two more dates on the calendar: Manchester on July 9 and a final bow at London’s Hyde Park on July 13—the same stage where Lynne revived ELO in 2014 after a long hiatus.

“My return to touring began at Hyde Park,” Lynne shared when announcing the tour.
“It feels like the perfect place to play our final show. As the song goes—we’re gonna do it one more time!

Even with a cast on his hand, Jeff Lynne reminded fans why he’s one of music’s most enduring legends. The guitar may have been missing, but the spirit? Stronger than ever.

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