Lulu, 75, announces she is RETIRING from touring after 60 years in the spotlight... and sheds light on her all-star experiences with David Bowie, The Who, The Rolling Stones and more

Lulu has announced her retirement from touring following a glittering 60-year career – saying she felt ‘unsupported’ dealing with the heavy demands of touring last year.

The Scottish star, real name Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, said she found going on the road ‘gruelling’, while adding she’s realised over the past 12 months that she has changed.

Following speculation that she was considering quitting touring, Lulu told the Rosebud podcast: ‘I’m announcing it for the first time now – this is my farewell tour.’

But she has promised to make the concerts – starting on April 9 in Glasgow and ending at the London Palladium – memorably different, with family and famous friends appearing at the shows and a number likely to perform with her on stage.

Following the announcement, Lulu also spoke to The Guardian about her dazzling all-star experiences in the spotlight – including personal experiences with icons including David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop and The Who.

Lulu has announced her retirement from touring following a glittering 60-year career (Lulu pictured in 1966, just two years into her career)

Following the announcement, Lulu also spoke to The Guardian about her dazzling all-star experiences in the spotlight – including personal experiences with icons including David Bowie , The Rolling Stones , Iggy Pop and The Who (pictured with Bowie in 2000)

The Scottish star, real name Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, said she found going on the road ‘gruelling’, while adding she’s realised over the past 12 months that she has changed

The tour is also expected to include conversation about her career.

Although not wanting to give precise details away, she guaranteed her fans they will hear her 1969 Eurovision Song Contest winning hit ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’.

Lulu, honoured with an OBE and CBE, said: ‘I’m not going to tell you exactly what I’m going to do, but of course I’ll have to do ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’. The audience want to do it by themselves anyway. You can’t not give people what they want – and more.

‘If you’ve ever seen me on tour, just let me say, you won’t have seen me like this.

‘This is actually – I’m announcing it for the first time now – this is my farewell tour, with family, and friends.

‘Because last year I did a tour that was kind of gruelling – it was successful, it went well – but you need an army to be a success in your career these days.’

Suggesting she may concentrate on her acting, she added: ‘And I felt unsupported. But then I turned 75, and I thought ‘you know what, I want to carry on working, but I want to do it a different way. I’ve learned…

‘And I’ve also become a slightly different person. I’m not afraid to be vulnerable.’

Although not wanting to give precise details away, she guaranteed her fans they will hear her 1969 Eurovision Song Contest winning hit ‘Boom Bang-a-Bang’ (pictured last month)

Possible tour guests are Lulu’s past musical collaborators Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney. Sting, Take That and Westlife.

It was at the age of just 15 when her version of the Isley Brothers ‘Shout’ peaked at number seven on the UK chart and she went on to have a hit with with the title song to the 1974 James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.

The name of her final tour, ‘The Champagne for Lulu’ tour, was inspired by a line from her appearance in Ab Fab, which has led people to shout the words to her all over the world.

The closing Palladium date will be on the exact 60th anniversary of her hit ‘Shout’.

Lulu later spoke about her celebrity experiences, including meeting David Bowie, , who produced her 1974 cover of his 1970 song The Man Who Sold the World, which hit No. 3 on the UK charts and was a Top 10 hit across Europe; of course the song

She told The Guardian: ‘I first met him in a studio in the US with Iggy Pop…

Speaking about her experiences with The Rolling Stones, she amazingly stated: ‘The Stones would pat me on the head, like I was a little sister, which always annoyed me because I wanted to be their equal'(Lulu, left, pictured with The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood, centre, in 2019)

‘Later, he walked over to me in the foyer of a hotel in Sheffield, invited me to his show that night and said: “I wanna make a hit record with you.” Which is exactly what happened…

‘The record company wanted me to be a little pop diva but he said: “They don’t get your voice.” I loved Hunky Dory and he looked as if he hadn’t wiped his makeup off from the day before. His hair was orange, his skin was alabaster…

‘Once we’d had something to drink we were head-to-head, nose-to-nose for the rest of the evening.’

Speaking about her experiences with The Rolling Stones, she amazingly stated: ‘The Stones would pat me on the head, like I was a little sister, which always annoyed me because I wanted to be their equal.’

Possible tour guests are Lulu’s past musical collaborators Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney. Sting, Take That and Westlife

Lulu was then asked: ‘Is it true that you took Pete Townshend round to your folks’ house in Glasgow for tea and biscuits?’.

She then regaled: ‘It wasn’t just Pete, it was at least Pete and Roger [Daltrey]. It may even have been the whole band, and my parents’ flat was very small…

‘The Who supported me in Glasgow when they were the High Numbers, but it wasn’t tea and biscuits. My dad was a big drinker, so he sent out for half a bottle of whisky and six cans of lager. I still bump into Roger…

‘Nothing can replicate the history you’ve got with people from when you were young.