German metal singer Doro Pesch explained why retirement is not in her plans, telling The Metal Voice that she intends to perform until the end of her life.
Pesch was asked about whether she has ever thought about stepping away from music. She made clear that her commitment to the stage is permanent and tied to her physical condition.
“I wanna die on stage,” Pesch said. “It’s up to God, whenever He wants me. I do it like [late Motörhead icon] Lemmy, to the last day. I don’t ever wanna quit. And as long as you feel healthy — that’s the only thing. You need to stay in good shape and healthy. That sometimes can hit you one day or the other.”
She reflected on why health has become increasingly important to her. “My favorite engineer, I worked with him the last 12 years, and suddenly he has a real big [health] problem,” she continued. “And his wife just called me, and she said, ‘Doro, you can’t work anymore with him.’ And he was a boxer and a great tennis player, and he was totally active.”
“And, yeah, and it happened very quick that everything changed,” Pesch added. “And I hope he will get back to normal, but I don’t know. So, yeah, so many people around me I felt, like, oh my God, are getting sick. So I wanna try my best to stay [healthy and active].”
Pesch made these remarks in a conversation about her long career in metal music and her plans for the future. Her determination to continue performing reflects both her passion for the stage and her awareness of how quickly circumstances can change.
Pesch’s commitment to lifelong performance echoes the philosophy of Lemmy Kilmister, the late Motörhead icon she has long admired. The two metal pioneers shared a close bond, and Doro recorded a tribute song called “It Still Hurts” with Lemmy in 2012. Her statement about performing until the end of her life reflects the same dedication that defined Lemmy’s career.
Over her four-decade career, Pesch has sold more than ten million albums and performed more than 3,500 concerts. In 1986, she became the first woman to front a band at the Monsters of Rock festival, a breakthrough moment in the male-dominated metal scene. Her sustained career and recent achievements show her continued presence in the music industry.
In March 2025, Pesch received a lifetime achievement award in Düsseldorf, presented by Klaus Meine of Scorpions. She released the album Conqueress – Forever Strong And Proud in October 2023, which featured Judas Priest singer Rob Halford on guest vocals. Looking ahead, she is working on a new EP titled “Wild At Heart” for late 2026 release, and has announced a Winter Magic Tour for 2026 following sold-out winter shows in 2024 and 2025.
