Today’s recap includes news about original Four Tops member Levi Stubbs and more as compiled by TicketNews on October 17, 2008.
With Election Day right around the corner and the presidential race growing closer daily, musicians are doing all they can to pitch support behind their candidates of choice. For North Carolina native James Taylor, that candidate is Senator Barack Obama. The iconic singer-songwriter has plotted a series of benefit shows in his notoriously Republican home state to try to sway some undecided voters in the other direction.
Alt-rock band Fastball is planning another tour of the U.S. later this year to “spread a little love” as the economy continues its topsy-turvy run. … Rising stars of the indie world Ra Ra Riot are also planning another stretch of U.S. shows, but first they’ll be heading across the pond to play a few gigs with fellow indie phenomenon Vampire Weekend. … We’ve also received word of P.O.D.’s co-headlining run with Filter in 2009, but sadly this tour isn’t bound for the States.
Follow the links above for the full tour stories, or read on for more of today’s tour news in brief…
We start off the news in brief today with some sad news for music fans across the nation. Levi Stubbs, an original member of the Four Tops, died in his sleep at the age of 72 according to published reports. In addition to his work with the Tops, Stubbs was the voice of Audrey II in the 1986 version of “Little Shop of Horrors.” The iconic vocalist, who passed at his home in Detroit, had not performed with the Tops since 2000 due to his declining health. Stubbs battled a series of illnesses in recent years, including cancer and a stroke. The Four Tops continue to tour with the only surviving original member Abdul “Duke” Fakir.
Indie rock band My Morning Jacket has cancelled its European tour, scheduled for later this fall, due to injuries sustained by frontman Jim James when he fell off the stage at an October 7 show in Iowa. Refunds are available for the cancelled gigs. The band had previously postponed October 9-10 shows in Chicago, IL, following the accident; those shows have been rescheduled for December 27-28, preceding the band’s previously scheduled New Year’s Eve blowout at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
In less dramatic news, The Who will follow up their tour of North America and Japan with a set of shows back in the UK. The gigs are booked for December 14-15 at IndigO2 in London, ENG. Currently, those are the final shows on the band’s 2008 itinerary, which continues kicks off October 21 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI, and continues through a November 8-9 run at the Nokia Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles, CA. a five-show tour of Japan follows on November 13-19.
Ice Cube will accompany Snoop Dogg to New Zealand and Australia in late October and early November for an eight-show run, but plans to bring it all back home before the end of the year. The rapper is unveiling plans for a December trek across the South and West Coast, with the current concert count at nine. Shows begin December 9 at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA, and continue through December 23 at The New oasis in Sparks, NV. Other currently scheduled shows include a December 12 gig at The Meridian in Houston, TX, and a December 15 performance at Rialto Theatre in Tucson, AZ.
Blue Oyster Cult has added a block of dates onto its late-year tour itinerary. The new shows are set for December 12 at Showcase Live in Foxboro, MA, December 13 at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY, December 18 at the House of Blues in Cleveland, OH, and December 19 at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine, IL. Those are currently the final dates on the band’s current North American run, which continues October 17 at Seminole Casino in Tampa, FL, and includes a November 1 performance at the South Padre International Music Festival on South Padre Island, TX, and a November 12 set at State Theatre in State College, PA.
