21 September 2009
Newsdesk
�After quite an extraordinary break of 33 years, Yusuf, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, strolls back on the stage. It�s been a long wait, and fans are about to see why.� As one would expect from such an innovative and unpredictable artist it�s not a tour in the usual sense.
�The legendary singer/songwriter is expected to offer audiences a taste of his timeless hits, like Wild World, Father & Son and First Cut Is The Deepest, as well as music from his highly acclaimed new albums, An Other Cup and Roadsinger. Expanding the music concert with his return to the acoustic guitar, Yusuf will present a preview of the latest step on his lifelong voyage. Incorporating an exciting mix of concert and musical storytelling, Yusuf's unique performance will also showcase an exclusive debut of the new musical, Moonshadow.
�"My songs always told a story, so it's natural for me to extend that into a stage musical form." Yusuf said. "It's taken a long time to arrive, but it's always been a dream of mine to write a musical. Growing up in the West End of London, surrounded by theatres and shows, obviously left a strong impression on me. I originally wanted to be a composer, not a pop star." Strange how it's taken almost a lifetime, but it had to - the story is somewhat a metaphorical mirror of my own journey, so I suppose it had to wait to reach where I am today."
�Yusuf has sold over 60 million albums since his first hit I Love My Dog while he was still a teenager. Struck down with tuberculosis at the height of his pop success in 1968, he re-emerged in 1970 with a new, more reflective style on the album Mona Bone Jakon and followed with �Tea For The Tillerman� (1970) and �Teaser And The Firecat� (1971), albums that defined the singer-songwriter genre and inspired a generation.
�Rob Hallet is promoting the shows for AEG Live following his success with Leonard Cohen.
�Tour dates:
November 15 � Dublin The O2
November 23 � Birmingham NIA
December 5 � Liverpool Echo Arena
December 8 � London Royal Albert Hall
