In a recent interview on the Become A Guitarist Today podcast with Adam Roach, WINGER guitarist Reb Beach discussed the band’s upcoming “farewell” tours in Australia and Japan, set for 2025.

He shared his thoughts on the announcement and expressed his feelings about the band’s future. Reb said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It’s unfortunate that Kip [Winger, WINGER’s frontman] wants to end it, from my perspective, because I’m still enjoying it and could easily keep going for another decade. But the reality is, it’s taking a toll on his voice. When he says he’s had a bad night, you’d never know it. I’ve seen other singers struggle, but Kip’s ‘bad night’ still sounds like a perfect record. He might miss a note or have some trouble with a few notes in ‘Miles Away,’ and afterward, he’s like, ‘This is so embarrassing.’ But I’m telling him, ‘It’s just a few notes. No big deal.’ Fans still go to see singers from the ’80s who can’t even carry a tune anymore, and Kip’s still incredible. But the effort it takes for him to maintain that vocal perfection is huge.”

Reb elaborated further: “It’s not just the vocal strain; touring is tough on everyone. But for Kip, it’s also about his passion for something else. He’s always dreamed of diving into classical music, and now that’s where his heart is. After rocking for 35 years with this band, he’s finally breaking into the classical world. He even got a Grammy nomination a few years ago. Plus, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra will be performing a piece he composed for them. I plan to fly in to see it on May 9th. That’s what truly excites him now. He doesn’t need the money – I, on the other hand, could use it. But Kip doesn’t need that financial incentive. It’s just his time to move on. And while some might think we could replace him with another singer, that wouldn’t make sense. WINGER without Kip isn’t WINGER.”