Prolific Canadian metal musician Devin Townsend has revealed to fans that his forthcoming run of North American tour dates will be his last for the “foreseeable future” as he takes a “vacation” from touring.
The 52-year-old shared the news with his fans via a video message on Monday (April 28), telling them they should embrace the upcoming opportunity to catch him live throughout May.
“For nearly 35 years, I’ve followed a creative path guided by instinct—each album, each tour, each project a new chapter in a story I’ve felt compelled to tell,” he added in an accompanying message. “My mind latches onto concepts, and I love chasing them down. That chase has made this journey wild, unpredictable, and deeply fulfilling.
“Over the years, I’ve heard it countless times: ‘Dev, take a break… please.’ But the flood of ideas, the excitement, and the support of incredible musicians and listeners have kept me going, kept me touring, and kept me grateful for a life on the road.
“That said, things have changed—especially since the pandemic,” he added. “Booking tours now means planning up to two years in advance. With fewer venues, fewer crews, and a saturated touring circuit, it’s become more challenging than ever to line things up.”
As a result, Townsend explained that when he wraps up his upcoming run of dates in Los Angeles on May 23, it will be the “last time you’ll see me on stage for the foreseeable future.” Continuing, he noted that his extended period of rest will see him taking time to “breathe and recalibrate” as he deals with the necessities of life and he tends to the “dozen things that I’ve been waiting to do for all these years that have to be pushed aside due to the constant touring.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m done playing live. Not by a long shot,” he continued. “I’ll be performing until my final breath. But right now, I need to be present for the people who need me, and to give myself the space to reflect on everything I’ve been through.”
Townsend also added that he would be taking the time to launch a new YouTube series called The Ruby Quaker Show where he explores the numerous creative ventures he has had on the back burner for years. “Now I’m making the time to bring them to life, without that familiar pressure of knowing I’ll be gone again in a month,” he says.
In the meantime, Townsend also added that he would be doing his best to make the upcoming shows as “meaningful and unforgettable as possible” before he takes an extended period of leave from the stage.
“I will return to the stage. But first, I need to reset,” he concluded. “Touring has been a beautiful, exhausting constant in my life, and for once, I’m listening to the voice that says: slow down. I want to create from a place of calm inspiration rather than frantic obligation. And until I can truly be there for the people who rely on me, my creativity won’t be at its best.”
Townsend first rose to prominence in the ‘90s after working with and touring alongside Steve Vai, before founding Strapping Young Lad in 1994. The group would ultimately split in 2007, though Townsend had already embarked upon a prolific solo career by this point, with releases under the Devin Townsend Project and Casualties of Cool monikers also arriving over the years.
While the Devin Townsend Project’s 2012 release Epicloud would hit No. 105 on the Billboard 200 and top the Heatseekers chart, he would receive his biggest success in 2013 when Z² reached No. 73 on the Billboard 200.
