Belgian singer Johan Verminnen is preparing for a final farewell tour at the end of this year, accompanied by a new album titled De Laatste Ronde and a book. The 75-year-old artist returns to the stage after previously canceling his farewell plans due to a diagnosis of esophageal and stomach cancer.
Following serious health setbacks that forced him to cancel his scheduled departure from the stage last year following his diagnosis, Johan Verminnen is on the mend and planning to tour concert halls by the end of this year. The milestone marks a definitive closing chapter for a career spanning more than five decades in Belgian music.
Album Production and Collaborators Behind De Laatste Ronde
The new album served as a central fixture at a presentation event held at GC De Zandloper, where the singer arrived in a wheelchair following a hip operation necessitated by a heavy fall earlier that same week. The seeds for the project were planted during the quiet days of the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving into a planned final sweep through the venues, towns, and cities where Verminnen once performed.
Production duties for the new release fell to Wouter Berlaen, who shaped the project, arranged the tracks, and contributed several compositions written both individually and alongside Verminnen. According to details shared during the presentation, the impetus for De Laatste Ronde largely stemmed from Berlaen’s creative push. The record also draws on lyrical contributions from Stef Bos, Walter Ertvelt, and Wigbert Van Lierde.
Verminnen Launches De Laatste Ronde Album
Tom De Meijer, managing director at CNR Records, attended the launch representing the record label behind the project. Jan Hautekiet served as moderator for the gathering, which featured guest appearances from the core creative team.
Following the formal presentation, Verminnen performed selections from the new compact disc alongside Bert Candries and Leo Caerts. De Laatste Ronde is currently available through standard retail record outlets as well as online via the artist’s official web platform.