After almost 60 years, the time has come for Darryl Braithwaite to take up live music.
The ARIA Hall of Fame singer and former Sherbet frontman said in a social post on Tuesday, June 23, that years of battling his body have taken a toll.
“I would like to share this news with you all,” he wrote on Instagram. “After much consideration, I have made the difficult and sad decision to step back from performing live. For some time now, it has become increasingly physically difficult for me to sing comfortably, and as a result, I have lost the joy of performing that has always been so important to me.”
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The iconic Australian singer hasn’t closed the door on studio work or future recordings, but has left some leeway for one-off shows and events.
“I have loved my 58 years in the music industry,” he continues. “I would like to sincerely thank all of my dedicated and loyal supporters who have been such an important part of my singing career, and all the people and organizations that have been involved with me. Thank you, with much love, Darryl.”
Braithwaite’s last promotional solo show was held at the Cooley Hotel in Queensland on 13 March. Prior to that, he embarked on the 2024 Red Hot Summer Series, a national tour of outdoor venues headlined by Simple Minds and Icehouse.
As the frontman of glam-era pop band Sherbet, Braithwaite had a string of hits in the ’70s with songs like “Summer Love,” “Howzat” and “Cassandra.” Sherbes, as he was affectionately known, enjoyed international success.
Back in 1976, their Australian chart-topping hit “Howzat” reached number 4 in the UK and number 61 in the US. And when Daft Punk sampled the now-defunct duo’s early ’80s song “We Ride Tonight” for their song “Contact,” from 2013’s Random Access Memories, they ventured into French touch territory.
Braithwaite’s interpretation of Rickie Lee Jones’ “The Horses” is now considered a Down Under classic and a staple at house parties across the country. When Triple J counted down the inaugural Australian Songs Hottest 100 in July 2025, Braithwaite’s ‘The Horses’ came in at number 30, making it the highest-placed cover in the poll.
The 77-year-old Australian singer is one of the few artists to be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame twice. He received his Sorbet dues in 1990, just the third year of the annual gala. In 2017, he resumed his activities as a solo artist.
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