Dave Stewart says Eurythmics reunion window has closed

Dave Stewart believes the opportunity for Eurythmics to perform as a full band has passed. The guitarist, who formed the duo with singer Annie Lennox, stated that while he remains open to offers, the practical challenges of performing their catalog live have become too great for the group to sustain.

The pair achieved major commercial success in the 1980s and 1990s with tracks including "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and "Here Comes the Rain Again." Their final full concert took place in 1999. Since then, they have only appeared together for specific events, such as their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Stewart noted that the duo has continuously received proposals to reunite. "I would have done it in a flash, but Annie always turned them all down," he told Spin.

Stewart explained that performing Eurythmics material is physically demanding. He noted that the songs are difficult to sing for the duration of a typical two-hour set. "It’s incredibly demanding. It didn’t used to be," Stewart said. "We could have done it for like 25 years, one every three years or something. But now, I think it’s too late." He observed that while other long-dormant acts like Tears for Fears have returned to touring, Eurythmics has not made a similar move.

The duo’s communication has also decreased over the past two years. Stewart explained that their regular email exchanges and phone calls have slowed down. "Not so much now, because she lives in Los Angeles, and I live between Nashville and this studio compound I have in the Bahamas," he said. He added that the distance and their individual schedules have contributed to the lull in contact.

Stewart remains active in the music industry. He released his newest album, The Way It Was Back Then, on Oct. 30. He continues to work on writing and producing projects for other artists as well as his solo career.

The guitarist suggested that neither member has pursued the standard post-peak activities often undertaken by legacy acts. "We’ve never done anything that normal acts do when they’ve been through all of this stuff and reached a certain age, whether it’s a documentary or playing shows," Stewart said. He indicated that Lennox is currently focused on projects unrelated to the Eurythmics brand.

With Stewart based in Nashville and the Bahamas and Lennox residing in Los Angeles, the logistical hurdles for a full-length tour remain. The duo has not announced any new collaborative projects or performance dates since the release of Stewart’s latest solo record.