Superstar Paul Simon set for Summer Pops and Echo & Bunnymen make a date for massive hometown show

Apr 2 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

LEGENDARY singer songwriter Paul Simon is the latest superstar to sign up for this year’s Liverpool Summer Pops.

The American multi-Grammy winner’s 40-year career has spawned such timeless classics as Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Homeward Bound, Mrs Robinson and dozens of other hits including album classic Graceland.

This will not be his first appearance at the Liverpool Summer Pops. Speaking about his 2002 gig in the city, Simon said: “Liverpool was the very best concert on my European tour and the audience were also the best.

“I really enjoyed the show. What an audience, the reaction was really fabulous. I can’t wait to come back.”

Famously, the north west of England inspired him to pen one of his greatest hits. In 1965, a young Simon had been touring around the north west, appearing at clubs from Birkenhead to Widnes.

At Widnes railway station he wrote “Homeward Bound”, Simon and Garfunkel’s first UK hit as he was homesick.

Paul Simon will play the Echo Arena, Liverpool on July 6. Tickets priced £35 and £45 go on sale this morning at 9am (a limited amount of Gold Circle tickets are also available)

He lines up alongside Diana Ross, Blondie, Michael Bublé, The Stranglers, Michael Ball, Jools Holland, Crowded House, Mick Hucknall, Deacon Blue, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, Counting Crows, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, and Meat Loaf.

His addition to the Summer Pops bill comes just hours after Liverpool stalwarts Echo & The Bunnymen announced their plans to celebrate their 30th anniversary with a massive hometown show at the waterfront arena.

The band, accompanied by an orchestra, will be performing their classic album “Ocean Rain” in full at the dockside venue on Liverpool on Thursday, November 27.

Fans are also promised songs from their forthcoming album as well as classic Bunnymen tracks.

Frontman Ian McCulloch said: “Because of the overwhelming response to our Royal Albert Hall ‘Ocean Rain’ show in September – which is sold out – I decided that we should take it around the world – New York, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo, Moscow amongst other cities.

“Obviously, my home city, the place I love and live in had to be there.”

Tickets for both gigs are available by calling the Echo Arena on 0844 8000 400 or online at www.accliverpool.com

richarddown