Brian Eno Turned Down Roxy Music’s 2022 Farewell Tour Because He Stopped Flying “for Environmental Reasons”

Apparently, the man who made Music for Airports nearly 50 years ago now doesn’t even use airports. Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera has said that former bandmate Brian Eno turned down the band’s 2022 reunion/50th anniversary/farewell tour because he’s taken an environmental stand against airplanes.

Manzanera revealed the fascinating tidbit in an interview with Vulture around Roxy Music’s newly released For Your Pleasure Super Deluxe Edition. Recalling that 2022 tour, the guitarist said the band really wanted Eno to join them one last time. “In true Eno fashion he said, ‘I’m not flying anymore for environmental reasons,'” said Manzanera. “I’ll choose to believe it. He’s the same guy I met in 1971.”

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Since that time, Eno has gone back on the road, namely his first-ever solo tour in 2023. However, all the dates for “The Ships” tour were in the UK and Europe, locations accessible via train or (we assume) eco-friendly vehicle; at worst, he could’ve taken an actual ship across the English Channel or used the Chunnel. Is it really possible the artist who birthed ambient music with 1979’s landmark Ambient 1: Music for Airports hasn’t set foot in an actual airport in years?

As Manzanera referenced, it would certainly fit Eno’s principled persona. Last year, Eno pledged the fee he had received to create the insanely recognizable Windows startup sound to aid “the victims of the attacks on Gaza” in response to the computer company’s AI and cloud partnership with the Israeli government. A few months later, he threw the “Together for Palestine” benefit concert with Damon Albarn, Jamie xx,Rina Sawayama, James Blake, PinkPantheress, King Krule, and others.