Dave Stewart Calls It Too Late for Eurythmics Reunion

Dave Stewart has concluded that a full Eurythmics reunion is no longer feasible. The guitarist and producer told Spin that while he would have accepted offers to tour, Annie Lennox turned them down. Stewart stated, 'I really do think that when you have songs that mean a lot to people.. you can see it having an effect. Obviously, music itself has a massive effect, but I wish we did play.' He added, 'But now, I think it’s too late.'

The duo’s last full concert occurred in 1999. Since then, they have performed together only on rare occasions, including their 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Stewart noted that the material is physically taxing for Lennox. He observed that during a recent solo performance, she sang only four or five Eurythmics tracks before introducing guests. He described a two-hour set as 'incredibly demanding,' a challenge that did not exist during the band’s 25-year peak.

Stewart pointed to the distance between the two artists as a factor in their separation. He lives between Nashville and a studio compound in the Bahamas, while Lennox resides in Los Angeles. Stewart explained that they used to exchange emails and speak frequently, but that communication 'fizzled out a bit' over the last two years. He suggested Lennox is currently focused on matters unrelated to the band’s past.

The guitarist remains active in the music industry. He released his newest album, The Way It Was Back Then, on Oct. 30. Stewart contrasted the Eurythmics' inactivity with the behavior of other legacy acts. He noted that bands like Tears for Fears returned to live performance after long breaks. Stewart argued that Eurythmics has not produced standard career retrospectives, such as a documentary or a touring cycle, which other groups of their age typically undertake.

Stewart acknowledged the emotional impact of performing their hit songs live. He described watching audience members sing along or look at their partners as evidence of the music's effect. Despite this, he maintained that the logistical and physical hurdles of a reunion are too great to overcome at this stage in the duo's history.