Farruko
Courtesy Imagine It Media / Mike HoFarruko is officially on the road with his La 167 tour that launched last fall in San Diego. With seven concerts left in the trek, as well as soon-to-be-announced festival performances, the Puerto Rican singer has opened up about his religious beliefs to fans.
During his concert on Friday (Feb. 11) at Miami’s FTX Arena, the artist born Carlos Efrén Reyes Rosado preached the word of God to the audience multiple times. “God loves you just the way you are,” he told the packed venue. “We’re all sinners, none of us are perfect.”
Farruko expressed that even though he has all the money and success in the world, he would feel empty and cry at night. “Me, being number one, having the best cars, having it all, I couldn’t see my children,” he explained. “I destroyed my first family. I hurt a woman who loved me just the way I was.”
During his show, the reggaeton singer did not perform his dance hit “Pepas” and in fact, asked fans to forgive him for the lyrics. “Pepas,” which instead was played during the set for the crowd to sing, scored Farruko his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart on the Aug. 28, 2021-dated tally.
“I believed my own lie because my song was number one. I didn’t know the message I was sending,” he said of “Pepas,” meaning pill in English and narrating the story of someone who only wants to party all night long and live the moment. “I’m not proud of that. Who knows how many of your kids I hurt. Now I ask you forgiveness because love starts from within. Value life because we do not know if we are going to save ourselves.”
In summer 2021, Billboard exclusively announced Farru’s return to touring, where he said, “I promise to provide you with a show full of energy and a lot of great music as you all deserve it.”
While some fans on Twitter expressed they were not expecting a religious experience, others applauded the singer’s message.
Following his Miami performance, the singer addressed the concerns of his fans, saying, “I’m sorry to say that Farruko has retired and who’s here is Carlos.”
“I’m truly sorry for those who want to see Farruko,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “You still have time to not go and we will reimburse your money. Those who go and want a new experience of love, are more than welcome. Even if one person goes, I’ll be there and I’ll love you the same whether you attend [my concert] or not. You still have time to not spend your money and time. No one is obliged. There are more artists that you can follow and go see. I am only fulfilling my commitments because I am from word and I owe respect to my fans and God.”
Named after his latest studio album and in honor of one of the main highways in Puerto Rico near his hometown, the La 167 tour made stops in Houston, Atlanta, and San Juan, among other cities. The tour — presented for the most part by Loud and Live and Live Nation on select shows — is set to wrap up on March 5 in Puerto Rico.
10cc drummer Paul Burgess has announced that he is leaving the band because the demands of touring have become too much for him.
The 75-year-old musician, who also spent time performing with Jethro Tull, Camel, Magna Carta, and The Icicle Works, has chosen to walk away from the legendary rock group after more than five decades.
He shared: “After so many wonderful years with 10cc, I must admit that the rigours of touring are no longer manageable for me as I get older, and I feel it’s time to let go of the long hours in airports and endless travel on buses.
“I’m not planning to stop playing altogether. I will still perform but at a pace that feels right, working alongside old friends and a new group of fellow musicians called The Guilty Men.”
Frontman Graham Gouldman confessed that it will feel unusual to perform without his “longest-running musical associate.”
He explained: “When Paul and I first joined forces in 10cc, we never could have imagined that we’d still be at it after 30 years, let alone 52.
“Paul has been my longest musical partner and it will feel different to turn around and see another drummer, but I completely understand why he no longer wants to sit on a plane for 14 hours or wake up in a new hotel every day for weeks at a time.”
Ben Stone, who has previously played with Mike and The Mechanics and Bonnie Tyler, will be taking over on drums.
Paul, who had several runs with 10cc after joining in 1973, performed his final show with the I’m Not In Love band in Alexandria, Virginia this past September.
The group is set to continue their And Another Bloody Greatest Hits Tour in the UK next year.
