Final joint concert and key reunions
1970 breakup and the myth of a formal farewell show
Simon & Garfunkel did not play a traditional "final concert" when they formally dissolved in 1970. Their last performance as a regular duo prior to the breakup was at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in Queens, New York, on September 19, 1970. This concert served as the emotional and practical capstone to their recording career, supporting the album Bridge Over Troubled Water and marking the end of their regular touring partnership. In the decades since, high-profile reunions—most notably at Carnegie Hall (1981), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1990), and Live from Lincoln Center (2003)—have fueled recurring expectations of a full-scale tour that never materialized.
| Date | Event | Venue | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 1970 | Forest Hills Tennis Stadium | Queens, New York | Last regular duo concert before breakup |
| Dec 14, 1981 | Carnegie Hall | New York, NY | Solo sets and one brief acoustic reunion |
| Mar 13, 1990 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony | New York, NY | Induction performance inducted together |
| Apr 3, 2003 | Live from Lincoln Center | New York, NY | Television special with full set |
Notable reunions without a lasting tour
After 1970, Simon and Garfunkel periodically reunited for one-off concerts and recordings rather than embarking on a sustained tour. The 1981 Carnegie Hall date was primarily Simon’s solo concert, with a short, informal acoustic segment shared with Garfunkel. The 1990 Hall of Fame induction included a brief appearance, and the 2003 Live from Lincoln Center special showcased a full acoustic set but remained a television event, not the start of a tour. Crucially, none of these occasions restored the duo as a regular performing partnership.
Later appearances and the absence of a final tour
In the 2000s and 2010s, rumors of a large-scale "final tour" persisted in media, but Simon and Garfunkel did not commit to a joint tour itinerary. Occasional single-show offers surfaced, yet the duo did not schedule a definitive farewell series. This absence of a last tour underscores that their last joint performances remain the scattered reunions listed above rather than a single, universally acknowledged final show.
Public perception versus documented history
Many fans remember a polished, stadium-sized farewell that never occurred. In reality, the endpoint of their touring partnership was the 1970 Forest Hills concert, with subsequent appearances representing one-off gatherings rather than a resumed career. Understanding this distinction clarifies why there is no single, agreed-upon "last performance" and why dates like 1970, 1981, 1990, and 2003 continue to circulate in discussions of the duo’s timeline.
Summary of verified reunion timeline
Simon and Garfunkel last performed together as a regular concert duo on September 19, 1970. After their breakup, high-profile reunions took place in 1981, 1990, and 203, but these did not evolve into a sustained touring partnership. No final, farewell tour occurred; the 1970 concert remains the endpoint of their joint touring history, while later appearances are best understood as special one-off events.
- Primary endpoint: September 19, 1970 Forest Hills Tennis Stadium
- Key reunions: 1981 (Carnegie Hall), 1990 (Rock Hall), 2003 (Live from Lincoln Center)
- No large-scale joint tour followed reunions
- Distinction between final regular duo show and later one-off appearances
For clarity on the duo’s legacy, treat September 19, 1970 as the last time Simon and Garfunkel toured as a pair, while recognizing that periodic, well-attended reunions have sustained public interest without restoring a permanent joint touring act.