Walsall Football Club have today announced that Sir Elton John is set to perform at Banks's Stadium in the summer of 2015, as part of his European tour.
He will perform at the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday June 13th - the first outdoor gig at the stadium since the early 90s, when West Midlands’ outfit The Wonder Stuff headlined.
'The Elton John Show', which it is hoped will be in-front of some 17,000 fans, will include favourites from the star’s extensive back catalogue and classic album tracks from his five-decade career.
He will also be backed by his regular band including original members Davey Johnstone on guitar and Nigel Olsson on drums. The line-up also features Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion, and Kim Bullard on keyboards.
Tickets go on sale Friday at 9am and are available from www.theticketfactory.com or by calling 0844 338 0338 or 0844 844 0444.
In a statement released via saddlers.co.uk, the club confirm; "Elton John and his band will visit Walsall on Saturday, June 13th 2015 here at Banks’s Stadium as part of his European tour. This will be Elton’s first-ever performance in Walsall.
"The tour will feature iconic hits and classic album tracks from throughout his incredible five-decade career, including a selection of songs from his highly acclaimed album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a Deluxe Edition.
"Elton John’s band includes original member, Nigel Olsson, on drums, as well as Davey Johnstone on guitar, Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion, and Kim Bullard on keyboards."
Sir Elton spoke to saddlers.co.uk about today's news, he said; “I am very much looking forward to returning to the West Midlands and playing my first show in Walsall. My drummer, Nigel Olsson, has been with me since 1970 (he just recently celebrated his 2,000th show) and we both have such fond memories of our early shows at the clubs in the area.
"The fans there have always shown a great love for my music and my band and I can’t wait to bring our show to the Banks’s Stadium. I am sure we will all have a fantastic time.”
Walsall Football Club Chief Executive Stefan Gamble, added: “We are delighted to have been chosen as a venue for Elton John’s European Tour.
"This will be our first outdoor concert in over 20 years and will not only be a huge boost for the club, but a momentous day for the Town of Walsall and the wider Borough as a whole.
"Elton is an International artist of the highest calibre and it is a great honour to be able to play our part.”
"Undeniably one of the most acclaimed and adored artists of all time, Elton’s spectacular stage shows are sought after by audiences worldwide. Since his career began in 1969 he has played more than 3,500 concerts in over 80 countries.
"Elton is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 37 gold and 27 multi-platinum albums as well as 58 Billboard Top 40 singles, and he has sold more than 250 million records worldwide. Elton holds the record for the biggest-selling single of all time, Candle in the Wind 1997, which sold 33 million copies. He has also written the music for stage and screen successes Billy Elliot: The Musical, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, and The Lion King, which was recently named the highest-grossing stage show or film release in the world.
"Among the many awards and honours bestowed upon him are five Grammys, a Grammy Legend award, a Tony and and Oscar, a Best British Male Artist BRIT Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honor, Legend of Live Award, 12 Ivor Novello Awards and a knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II for 'services to music and charitable services'.
"Elton has recently been named the first recipient of the BRITs Icon Award, which recognises the very highest level of British music achievement, presented only to iconic artists whose writing, recording and performances set them apart as having made a lasting impact on the nation’s culture."