Elton John has announced what he is calling his “final tour dates ever” of North America and Europe with the “most spectacular production I’ve ever had.” (See his official announcement / news release below.)
A stadium tour that will take him through several countries (and continents!) will resume on September 1st of this year and conclude during the first quarter of 2023. (Wow … that’s quite a tour!!! Take a look at this list!!! No rest for the wicked!)
It looks like he’ll swing thru Chicago twice … first in February of next year for a couple of shows at The United Center … and then back again in August for an outdoor show at Soldier Field. (Frannie has never seen Elton John live … so there’s a part of me that wants to be there for his final curtain call … but let’s face it, his voice has been pretty “iffy” for years now … I can’t imagine a hectic-paced tour like this is going to do it any favors. I know he wants to say goodbye and go out in a VERY big way … but I just can’t even imagine what the undertaking involved with putting together what will amount to a 20 month farewell will do to him … this is likely more than an artist one-third his age could keep up with!!!) More power to you, Elton! Enjoy the ride. (kk)
Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour
Remaining 2021 Dates:
September
1st, 3rd and 4th – Berlin, DE – Mercedes Benz Arena
September 7th and 8th – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
September 11th, 12th and 14th – Hamburg, DE – Barclaycard Arena
September 17th and 18th – Stockholm, SE – Tele2 Arena
September 21st and 22nd – Helsinki, FI – Hartwall Arena
September 22nd – Helsinki, FI – Hartwall Arena
September 25th and 26th – Oslo, NO – Telenor Arena
September 28th – Copehnhagen, DK – Royal Arena
September 30th – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
October 2nd – Munich, DE – Olympiahalle
October 5th and 6th – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
October 8th – Mannheim, DE – SAP Arena
October 10th, 12th and 13th – Paris, France – AccorHotels
Arena
October 16th and 17th – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis
October 22nd and 23rd – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi
Oct 23 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi
An extended residency with shows on November 2nd, 3rd,7th,
9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th
and 17th in London, UK, at The O2
(with a quick stop on November 5th in Leeds, UK, at The First Direct
Arena
November 19th – Manchester, UK – Manchester Arena
November 21st, 23rd and 24th – Birmingham, UK
– Resorts World Arena
November 27th and 28th – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
And then back to Manchester Arena in Manchester, UK, for a show on December 1st
December
3rd and 4th – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
December 6th – Belfast, UK – The SSE Arena
December 9th and 10th – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live
December 13th and 14th – Glasgow, UK – The SSE Hydro
2022 Dates
January
19th – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center
January 21st and 22nd – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
January 25th and 26th – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
January 29th – N. Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena
January 30th – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena
February 1st – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
February 4th and 5th – Chicago, IL – United Center
February 8th and 9th – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
February 14th and 15th – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
February 18th and 19th – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
February 22nd and 23rd – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
February 25th – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
March 1st and 2nd – Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
March 5th and 6th – Uniondale, NY – Nassau Coliseum
March 19th – Fargo, ND – Fargodome
March 22nd and 23rd – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
March 26th – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
March 27th – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
March 30th – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
April 1st – Indianapolis, IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse
April 2nd – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
April 5th – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
April 8th – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
April 9th – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
April 12th – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
April 13th – Hershey, PA – Giant Center
April 16th – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
April 19th – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
April 20th – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena
April 23rd – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Arena
April 24th – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
April 27th – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
April 28th – Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena
May
27th – Frankfurt – Deutsche Bank Park
May 29th – Leipzig – Red Bull Arena
June 4th – Milan – San Siro Stadium
June 7th – Horsens – CASA Arena
June 9th – Arnhem – Gelredome
June 11th – Paris – La Defense Arena
June 15th – Norwich – Carrow Road
June 17th – Liverpool – Arnfield Stadium
June 19th – Sunderland – Stadium of Light
June 22nd – Bristol – Ashton Gate Stadium
June 29th – Swansea – Liberty Stadium
July
15th – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park
July 18th – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park
July 23rd – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
July 28th – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium
July 30th – Cleveland, OH – Progressive Field
August 5th – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
August 7th – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
September 10th – Syracuse, NY – Carrier Dome
September 16th – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park
September 18th – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
September 22nd – Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
September 24th – Washington, DC – Nationals Park
September 30th – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field
October 2nd – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium
October 21st – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
October 29th – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome
November 4th – Houston, TX – Minute Maid Park
November 12th – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field
And then the whole thing culminates on November 19th and 20th
with shows in Los Angeles, CA, at Dodger Stadium, home to MANY an Elton John
Concert Event in the past. (And this
completes his last ever show on American soil.)
2023
January 27th
and 28th – Auckland, NZ – Mt. Smart Stadium
(More Australian dates are expected to be announced)
And, since we’re posting tour schedules, ZZ Top has finally resumed their Covid-Interrupted Tour (and will be adding even more dates along the way.)
Here’s the latest itinerary …
Confirmed ZZ Top tour dates:
(More dates to be added – check zztop.com for current tour info)
2021
July 16 - Manchester, IA - Delaware County Fair
17 - Mt Pleasant, MI - Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
18 - Louisville, KY - Waterfront Park
21 - Evansville, IN - Ford Center
23 - New Lenox, IL - Village Commons
24 - Goshen, IN - Elkhart County 4-H Fair
25 - Corbin, KY - Corbin Arena
28 - Simpsonville, SC - CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
30 - Tuscaloosa, AL - Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
31 - Valdosta, GA - Wild Adventures
Aug 1 - Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater
3 - Little Rock, AR - First Security Amphitheater
4 - Alexandria, LA - Rapides Paris Coliseum
6 - Camdenton, MO - Lake Ozarks Amphitheatre
7 - Washington, MO - Washington Town & Country Fair
8 - Bonner Springs, KS - Azura Amphitheater
11 - Sturgis, SD - Buffalo Chip Campground
12 - Casper, WY - Casper Events Center
14 - Reno, NV - Reno Ballroom - Silver Legacy Casino
15 - Grande Ronde, OR - Spirit Mountain Casino
17 - Jacksonville, OR - Britt Pavilion
19 - Maryville, WA - Tulalip Amphitheater
20 - Lewiston, ID - Clearwater River Casino
21 - Missoula, MT - KettleHouse Amphitheater
24 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater
Sept 11 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest – Henry Maier Festival Park
12 - Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
14 - Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights
15 - Cedar Rapids, IA – Alliant Energy PowerHouse
17 - Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cover at Harrah’s Casino
18 - Pryor, OK - Born & Raised Festival
19 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
21 - Charleston, WV - Charleston Coliseum
22 - Doswell, VA - Meadow Event Park
23 - Frederick, MD - Frederick Fairgrounds
25 - Watertown, NY - Watertown Fairgrounds Baseball Diamond
26 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
28 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performing Arts Center
30 - Macon, GA - Macon City Auditorium @ The Macon Centreplex
Oct 1 - Tupelo, MS - BancorpSouth Arena
2 - Lake Charles, LA - Golden Nugget
4 - Fort Worth, TX - Dickies Arena
8 - Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian Theatre
9 - Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian Theatre
10 - Scottsdale, AZ - Talking Stick Resort
13 - Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian Theatre
15 - Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian Theatre
16 - Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian Theatre
Nov 6 - Key West, FL - Key West Amphitheater
9 - Tampa, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
11 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock International
13 - Fort Myers, FL - Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
14 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
16 - Melbourne, FL - King Center for the Performing Arts
17 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theater
20 - Wilmington, NC - Cape Fear Community College
21- Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
23 - Chattanooga, TN - Tivoli Theatre
27 - Lubbock, TX - Buddy Holly Center
28 - Lubbock, TX - Buddy Holly Center
Dec 3 - Biloxi, MS - IP Casino Resort and Hotel
4 - Shreveport, LA - Municipal Auditorium
5 - Wichita Falls, TX - Memorial Auditorium
7 - Abilene, TX - Taylor County Coliseum
11 - El Paso, TX - Abraham Chavez Theatre
12 - Midland, TX - Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
2022
April 23 - Abborsford, BC - Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre
24 - Penticton, BC - South Okanagen Events Centre
26 - Kamloops, BC - Sandman Centre
27 - Lethbridge, AB - ENMAX Centre
29 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Center
30 - Enoch, AB - River Cree Resort & Casino
May 3 - Brandon, MB - Keystone Centre
4 - Niagara Falls, ON - Fallsview Casino Resort
8 - Laval, QC - Place Bell
10 - Halifax, NS - Halifax Scotiabank Centre
13 - St. John’s, NL - Mile One Centre
14 - St. John’s, NL - Mile One Centre
LOTS of buzz for Harvey Kubernik’s new book on Jimi Hendrix, “Voodoo Child.”
Written with his brother Kenneth, the book will feature comments from all kinds of people who crossed paths with Jimi back in the day … and is chock full of previously unpublished, never-before-seen photographs. Sounds like a keeper! (kk)
A new book about Jimi Hendrix that features discussions with his contemporaries, including fellow musicians and other scene-makers, is coming this fall.
Acclaimed rock music journalists and authors Harvey Kubernik and Kenneth Kubernik celebrate the legendary artist’s life, music and legacy with Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child, coming October 19, 2021, from Sterling Publishing.
Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child includes previously unpublished excerpts from interviews with the recording, producing and engineering principals from throughout Hendrix ’s career, with a focus on his music. Among those featured are Dick Clark, Andrew Loog Oldham, composer Mike Stoller, Steve Cropper, Chris Hillman, photographer Henry Diltz, Dave Mason, producer Jerry Wexler, Electric Lady Studios engineer Eddie Kramer, Love guitarist Johnny Echols, Don Wilson of the Ventures, Brian Auger, TV and film director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Jim Keltner, and many more.
Writer-photographer Heather Harris says of the book, “You’ll be happily immersed … in no time. It is mega-content bursting at the seams.”
She adds, “Most all of its myriad photographs are entirely new to the public, including those telltale little square Kodak Instamatic shots of the band interacting with fans and peers alike, or oddities like fans splashing about in the reflecting pool fronting the stage of the Hollywood Bowl while the Experience [performed].
“Eddie Kramer, Nels Cline and Billy Cox so thoroughly codify why Hendrix sounded like Hendrix that the music will swirl in your head all the while that you’re reading. Which is precisely what a superior music book should do.”
We’ve run exclusive photos of Jimi Hendrix before in Forgotten Hits, taken at a small venue (The Scene) where he played in Milwaukee back in the mid-to-late ‘60’s. Forgotten Hits Reader Jean Theel sent these to us back in 2001 … and they, too, are one-of-a-kinds … truly candid shots. (kk)
And, of course, you can't EVER talk about Jimi Hendrix without mentioning The Monkees, right???
Micky Dolenz talks some more about his new “Dolenz Sings Nesmith” album … and the upcoming Monkees Farewell Tour he’s doing with Michael Nesmith …
This sounds like fun …
A “watch from home” musical featuring all of your favorite tv themes from back in the day. Discount tickets for $12.50 puts this right in your living room!
We certainly have spent our fair share of time talking about TV Themes here in Forgotten Hits. (You can find the most recent list of your all-time favorites here:
http://forgottenhits.com/your_top_100_all-time_favorite_tv_themes_based_on_our_2020_poll
And, speaking of Forgotten Hits features that just live on and on, it was REALLY cool to run across this website last week while searching for something else …
https://thjkoc.net/2020/04/03/we-are-the-champions/
It’s a critique of our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL-TIME List. (Keep in mind, this list is the result of our polling your favorites and then tabulating YOUR votes to determine the all-time favorites.
There will always be room for discussion on this topic … I just wish some of the Premier Classic Rock Radio Stations would spend an hour here looking over the titles … and then a few more hours spicing up their own station’s play list. There are just SO many INCREDIBLY good songs that continue to get ignored in favor of playing “More Than A Feeling” 24 times a week … and CONSTANT airplay of the same dozen Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith songs, “Night Moves,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Layla,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Black Water.” (These artists DID record other tunes, you know, right???)
We probably still get about 10-12 requests a week for copies of our final countdown list. (You can request your copy, too, if you don’t already have it, by simply dropping me an email at kk@forgottenhits.com … and we’ll send it along.
Or you can just look it over right here …
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/
And, since EVERY list is made to be scrutinized and debated, how about THIS list published in Billboard Magazine this week, spotlighting The Top 100 Car Songs.
(Boy, did they miss the boat on this one!!!)
But that’s just some old guy who loves songs from the ‘60’s talkin’!!!
Check it out for yourself and see what you think …
Earlier in the week we ran a couple of Foo Fighters videos showing the band performing a couple of Bee Gees tunes (and quite well, too, I might add … scroll back to Monday’s post if you missed it.)
Five Gibb classics will be released on their special Record Store Day album “Hail Satin” under the moniker The Dee Gees (as in David Grohl.)
Well, David Grohl and Company performed a live concert last weekend at Madison Square Garden to a sold out, fully vaccinated crowd … and the reviews have been sensational. (Dave Chapelle even showed up to help them out with one!)
You can read more about it (and see a couple of cool videos from the show) here:
Remember when “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)” came out in 1972 and nobody could believe it was The Hollies? (In fact, if anything, MOST people thought that this must be the new record by Creedence Clearwater Revival … and it really did kind of have that sound … although when you listen to it now, after having it pounded into your head for the past fifty years, you cannot help but wonder how you ever thought that. But … it still doesn’t really sound like The Hollies either!)
Reportedly originally conceived as a solo single for Hollies lead singer Allan Clarke (he had been writing material outside the band with Roger Cook at the time), they decided to do it instead as a group single … and it became the biggest hit The Hollies ever had, reaching #1 in both Cash Box and Record World Magazine and peaking at #2 in Billboard. (That’s a #1 in my book!)
Yet no matter how many THOUSANDS of times you may have heard this song, do you REALLY know the lyrics???
Best Classic Bands wondered the same thing … and came up with this little tutorial. (Let me know how many YOU got right … I failed MISERABLY!!!)
https://bestclassicbands.com/hollies-long-cool-woman-7-15-20/
And you’ve REALLY gotta wonder what planet this guy is from!!!
I stumbled across this YouTube video this morning because the title, Top 10 60s Songs You Forgot Were Awesome, caught my eye. According to Nostalgic Nick, these are some of the great songs “you may not have heard in years” … “Happy Together” by The Turtles … “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells … “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In” by The Fifth Dimension … What the hell is this guy talking about?!?!? We hear these songs EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! He goes on to describe these as songs that “rarely get paid today … “The House Of The Rising Sun,” “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” “96 Tears” … Forgotten?!?!? In what world?!?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVTPBCAzM8c&t=228s
Yet, incredibly, this clips has nearly a million and a half views!!!
I guess if you want TRULY Forgotten Hits, you’ll just have to continue to come here! (kk)
A new live version of “Susie Cincinnati” by The Beach Boys has just been posted on YouTube. It comes from the brand new “Feel Flows” box set, a look back at the sessions that created the “Sunflower” and “Surf’s Up” albums, coming out next month.
Check out the newly-released live version of Susie Cincinnati from Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969–1971:
https://youtu.be/HCJCB57gHhM
Written/lead vocal by Al Jardine
Pre-order Feel Flows here: https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/FeelFlows
