Remo Fernandes Retires From Live Concerts After Emotional UK Farewell Performance

Veteran singer, songwriter and Padma Shri awardee Remo Fernandes has announced his retirement from live concerts, bringing the curtain down on a performance career spanning more than five decades. The 73 year old made the emotional announcement during the UK Goan Festival (Goa Day 2026) in Hounslow, London, revealing that health complications have made it impossible for him to continue performing as he once did.

Addressing the audience before his performance, Fernandes said he suffered a mild stroke after taking his third COVID vaccine, which affected the movement of his fingers and made playing the guitar and flute difficult. He also revealed that he battled vertigo last year and underwent surgery after a serious fall.

"My doctor told me I cannot perform standing anymore. Sitting down and performing is not really my cup of tea. That's why I decided to call it a day," he said.

Fernandes said he chose the UK Goan Festival for his farewell because he had missed last year's event following surgery and wanted to fulfil his long held wish of performing before the Goan community in Britain. Despite apologising that his voice and fingers were no longer what they used to be, he treated fans to an hour long performance featuring classics including Maria Pitache and Humma Humma, drawing an emotional response and standing ovation.

Born in Goa in 1953, Fernandes studied architecture before pursuing music full time. He became one of India's pioneering independent musicians, blending Goan, Portuguese, rock, Latin, reggae and world music. His albums Pack That Smack and Bombay City, along with songs like Mr Minister and Down with Brown, earned cult status, while Bollywood hits such as Humma Humma, Huiya Ho and Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha made him a household name. Honoured with the Padma Shri in 2007, Fernandes leaves behind a legacy that transformed Indian pop and independent music.