Yusuf, the artist better known as Cat Stevens, has announced plans for a book tour later this year to promote his forthcoming memoir, Cat on the Road to Findout.
The promotional trek, dubbed “Cat on the Road to Findout – An Evening of Tales, Tunes and Mysteries,” will visit Stevens’ native U.K., along with a stop in Dublin, Ireland, this September. The tour will then head to North America in October.
Each event will feature an in-depth conversation with the singer/songwriter about his book, which, according to a press release, “chronicles his evolution from chart-topping pop star to spiritual explorer.” Stevens also will deliver an acoustic performance of some of his classic songs during the presentations.
Tickets to the tour stops will go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 23, at 10 a.m. local time. Pre-sale tickets are available now, including bundles that offer a copy of the book. Fans interested in buying tickets early may want to check out StubHub.
Cat on the Road to Findout will be published on September 18 in the U.K. and October 7 in North America. The memoir, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook formats. The audiobook version is narrated by Stevens himself.
More About the Book
In a statement, Stevens discusses the inspiration for writing his memoir, what he hopes to pass along with the book.
“Having passed through the exhaustingly complex maze of everyday material life, ascending the dizzying heights of wealth, recognition, and artistic achievements, I think I’ve got a few things to share,” he notes. “Keeping an open mind was part of the nature I instinctively maintained as a creative songwriter. Nothing was off-bounds. Music was a way of discovering my purpose within the universe. I just kept on exploring, reading, and learning more, ignoring myths and warnings and crossing dangerous-looking bridges into the vast ranges of philosophies and through the veils of the spiritual unknown.”
He continues, “Now I have written a book which explains what I’ve learned and the stories along the way. That doesn’t make me a teacher, but more of a potential specimen for those who are searching and pursuing happiness on all sides of the divide.”
A description of Cat on the Road to Findout points out that the book “finally reveals the curious complexity and intellectual reasoning behind [Stevens’] navigation through life—a voyage which has now culminated in his return to music and art, to share his lessons with those seekers, dreamers, and believers, who still love and admire him.”
The memoir also features dozens of hand-drawn illustrations by Stevens, as well as archival images.
More About the Tour
According to a statement, the book tour will offer “a rare opportunity to hear Stevens reflect on the triumphs, trials, and transcendental quest that shaped his music and worldview—and to experience the timeless messages of hope, peace, and personal truth that continue to resonate through his work.”
In addition to the interview segments and performances, the events will feature presentations of photos, film clips, artwork, recorded music, and more.
The first leg of the tour will kick off September 6 in Cambridge, England, and will run through a September 22 appearance in Glasgow, Scotland. The North American leg is scheduled from an October 2 stop in Philadelphia through an October 21 visit to Los Angeles.
Stevens also will be performing at Hyde Park in London on June 11. That concert will be headlined by Neil Young and his current group, The Chrome Hearts.
More About Yusuf/Cat Stevens
Born Steven Georgiou, Stevens first found success as a pop star in the mid-to-late 1960s. He achieved greater popularity in the 1970s after moving toward a more introspective folk/rock sound.
Among his many hits and popular tunes are “Father and Son,” “Wild World,” “Moonshadow,” “Peace Train,” “Morning Has Broken,” and “Oh Very Young.”
In the late 1970s, Stevens converted to Islam and took on the new name Yusuf Islam. He also withdrew from the music business around this time, and stopped performing. He gradually resumed his music career starting in the late 1990s. In 2014, Yusuf/Cat Stevens was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“Cat on the Road to Findout” Tour Dates:
9/6 – Cambridge, U.K. @ Corn Exchange
9/8 – Bristol, U.K. @ Bristol Beacon
9/11 – Birmingham, U.K. @ Alexandra Theatre
9/14 – London, U.K. @ Theatre Royal Drury Lane
9/16 – Manchester, U.K. @ Bridgewater Hall
9/18 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Olympia Theatre
9/22 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Royal Concert Hall
10/2 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
10/6 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Theatre
10/8 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Massey Hall
10/11 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
10/14 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
10/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
10/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dolby Theatre
