Despite announcing his retirement from the road ahead of a farewell tour in 2018, Paul Simon has now said that he's "optimistic" about returning to the stage.
In a new interview with The Guardian, the 82-year-old iconic singer-songwriter said that, in spite of losing his hearing in his left ear during the recording of 2023's Seven Psalms, he's feeling positive about potentially performing again.
"I'm hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert," Simon told the publication. "I'm optimistic. Six months ago I was pessimistic."
Last July, he admitted to Mojo Magazine, "I haven't figured out how to perform with the hearing loss. I've tried to rehearse with the guys in my touring band, to see if I could manage it. I can't so far."
"It was scary, frustrating," Simon told The Guardian of his hearing loss. "You're in denial and then you're overwhelmed by this change in your life because you now have a disability."
However, the songsmith made a tentative return to the stage last month, performing seven songs acoustically for about 150 people at an invite-only charity fundraiser in New York. We probably shouldn't expect Simon to get back on the road anytime soon, but it seems like he's open to taking on more performance opportunities.
Last year, the legend sold a "substantial stake" in his Simon & Garfunkel royalties to BMG, following the 2021 sale of his publishing catalogue.