\n<\/p>\n
\n\tSeveral months ago, Little Feat<\/a> keyboardist, singer, and co-founder Billy Payne, along with his bandmates, heard an interesting proposition from their managers. Little Feat had just released Strike Up the Band<\/a><\/em>, a well-received new album that rebooted its funky, good-time sound, and tour dates were underway. But to Payne\u2019s surprise, their team suggested it may be time to hang it up as a road band.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cEverybody and their brother is retiring now,\u201d says Payne. \u201cBut I\u2019ll be honest, I resisted it at first. I\u2019ll be 77 in March, and [guitarist] Fred Tackett is 80 and [bassist] Kenny [Gradney] will be 76 next year. But what\u2019s the rush on farewelling this thing?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tEventually, the band came around to the idea. And next year, Little Feat, the beloved group that\u2019s been blending Americana genres for over 55 years, will join the growing list of classic artists like Journey<\/a>, Kiss, the Eagles, Elton John, John Baez, and Aerosmith who\u2019ve completed or are in the midst of long-goodbye tours. The Last Farewell Tour, a nod to their cheeky 1975 album title The Last Record Album<\/em>, will start next April and make its way around the world for at least two years (the band announced the first round of dates on Wednesday). \u201cThey\u2019ve hit a major high note in their sound and career,\u201d co-manager Brian Penix, of the Nashville-based Vector, tells Rolling Stone<\/em>, \u201cand we all want to celebrate the legacy of Little Feat one more time across the globe. And in the right way, while we still can.\u201d<\/p>\n