CAT STEVENS
Compiled by Alan Harvey
1972 "ZIMMERING" TOUR

PROMOTER:
Paul Dainty Corporation

CAT STEVENS & BAND:
Cat Stevens [vocals, guitar, piano]
with
Alun Davies [guitar]
Larry Steele [bass]
Jean Roussel [keyboards]
Gerry Conway [drums]
Del Newman [musical director] plus 11-piece string section

SUPPORT:
Ramblin' Jack Elliot

DATES - CITIES - VENUES:
24 August 1972 - Brisbane - Festival Hall
29, 30 August 1972 - Sydney - Horden Pavilion
5, 6 September 1972 - Melbourne - Festival Hall
8, 9 September 1972 - Adelaide - Apollo Stadium
11 September 1972 - Perth - WACA

 

1974 BAMBOOZLE TOUR

HEADLINER:

DATES / CITIES / VENUES:
2 June 1974 - Sydney - Hordern Pavilion,
7 June 1974 - Adelaide - Thebarton Town Hall
11 & 12 June 1974 - Melbourne - Festival Hall
15 June 1974 - Brisbane - Festival Hall


Cat Stevens [vocals, guitar, piano]
with
Alun Davies [vocals, guitar]
Gerry Conway [drums, percussion]
Jean Roussel [keyboards]
Larry Steele [vocals, percussion, guitar]
Bruce Lynch [bass]
Sue Lynch [vocals]
Anna Peacock [vocals]
Jim Cregan [electric guitar]

NOTES

TOUR NOTES FROM GO-SET
In an interview prior to arrival in OZ, Stevens was asked, "I guess it would be fair to say everyone in Australia who is into music is looking forward to this tour." Stevens replied, " Yes and I think every one will be pleasantly surprised. In fact I'll go one step further and say everyone who comes to the concert will take away a great experience."

However before Cat arrived in Australia there was controversy about the exorbitant ticket price of $6.60! One Go-Set headline read, "Cat Stevens - the public cry rip-off!" The promoter explained to Go-Set that "an artist of Cat Stevens caliber does not come cheaply." They also explained that in some venues certain seats couldn't be sold as Stevens had stipulated all seats should have unrestricted viewing. Also, even though Stevens was a solo artist his tour group included 14 people.

However, ticket prices did not seem to affect enthusiasm (or sales) for the tour as another Go-Set headline read, " Cat Arrives - wild scenes at Sydney airport." The article stated, "Fan mania reared its head in Australia again last Sunday when more than 300 Cat Stevens fans gave him a riotous welcome. As soon as Stevens emerged from the customs gates, police and excited enthusiastic fans surrounded the touring act. Police had their hands full protecting him from the fans." In an interview later with Molly Meldrum and Mitch from Go Set, Stevens was asked, "Your welcome to Sydney is compared with Beatlemania. Do you think you enjoy as much popularity as The Beatles once did?" Stevens answered, "No, I don't think anyone could repeat The Beatles, they were something in themselves, just as I am something in myself."

 

EXCERPTS FROM GO-SET CONCERT REVIEW
"As a musician Cat Stevens is currently proving to City people all over Australia that, not only can he be depended upon to provide us with a first class show, he also has the awareness to mirror contemporary City-thinking in a most illuminating fashion."

"He walked on stage to a thunderous reception, then settled down to nearly two hours of music. The new lineup behind Cat Stevens obviously made a difference. At precisely the right moment the black curtain would open to reveal Musical Director Del Newman and an eleven-piece string section."

"The debut of several numbers from "Catch Bull at Four" was probably the most exciting aspect of the shows to date. The audiences have proved to Cat Stevens that they are as attentive and discerning as their American English counterparts."

"No one can believe Cat Stevens - at least until they see and hear him live on this incredible Australian tour."

In Molly Meldrum's column he wrote, "Who will ever forget the tour of Cat Stevens? It was a brilliant tour and one of the most memorable."

FEEDBACK

Alan Harvey recalls:
"My brother and I were big Cat Stevens fans at the time and lucky enough to go to the Sydney concert. My father brought us tickets as a surprise. He wasn't into pop/rock music but knew we were fans and had heard Stevens was "quite good"! Thanks dad! As stated, the ticket prices for 1972 were really high (I stared working full time the next year on $43 a week!). The concert though was fantastic. The sound and staging were superb and Cat seemed determined to give his best, which he did. If anything sounded not quite right he (and his band) were onto it straight away. By 1972 he not only had a great body of songs behind him (from "Tillerman" and "Teaser") but his new songs were a highlight too (from "Catch"). As the reviewer stated, the audience, while enthusiastic, sat and listened quietly during each song soaking up every note. A big surprise was the string section that appeared after a while, adding a new dimension to the sound. Particularly pleasing was the length of the concert, two hours straight. While the tickets may have been expensive, it was value for money!"

Cat Stevens returned to Australia in 1974 for another full city concert tour. While not receiving the publicity of the first tour Go-Set wrote, "Cat Stevens has returned to Australia with a glorious show. When it comes to your city, don't miss it."

Michael Hunter recalls:
"The Adelaide shows were originally meant to be at the Apollo Stadium but it had recently banned rock acts from performing there, so the venue had to be hastily rearranged.  Back then, the Thebarton was yet to become a proper theatre and Cat summed up the mood of the crowd when his first words on stage were "What a dump!"  (yes, I was there).  Support acts were Linda Lewis and Australian band Bluestone (or Blue Stones as they were described in the advertising)."
 

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REFERENCES / LINKS

Go-Set magazine, 1972

Special thanks to Alan Harvey and Michael Hunter

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