NEW YORK, N.Y. – Don McLean‘s “American Pie” reached the top spot on SiriusXM’s 70s on 7 listener-voted list of 1,000 songs of the 1970s during Labor Day weekend. The Grammy award honoree, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient continues his 50th Anniversary American Pie World Tour with nearly 40 shows throughout Europe, including Dublin’s 3Arena on Friday 7th October. The tour kicks off on September 11 in the UK and concludes on November 13 in Austria. McLean will appear on Good Morning Britain (ITV) this Friday in advance of the tour.
“2022 has been an incredible year for us. I launched the tour on Feb 3rd, honoring the ‘day the music died’ and will be ending the year of touring in Europe,” says Don McLean. “Performing has been something I have been looking forward to. The pandemic kept all of us musicians locked up, so now getting back on the road and traveling is something exciting and fun. The fans in Europe have always been exceptional and I am looking forward to seeing them next month.”
As tragic as the backstory behind the song “American Pie” is with the much too early death of the new rock’n’roll-hope Buddy Holly, the track is also magnificent and legendary. And “American Pie” still goes to heart as soon as originator Don McLean plays this classic at his concerts. Still, it’s worth remembering that the 76-year-old composer has written and sung numerous other melodic and harmonic successes in his decades-long career with “Vincent (Starry Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air,” “And I Love You So,” and “Cryin’,” all of which will be heard and reveled in along with newer pieces on the upcoming tour.
Along with the 50th Anniversary American Pie World Tour, THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED: THE STORY OF DON McLEAN’S “AMERICAN PIE” launched on Paramount+, both in the U.S. and internationally where the service is available. With a narrative running deeper than a catchy tune and cryptic verses, “American Pie” is a musical phenomenon woven deep into the history of American culture, entertaining audiences around the world for over 50 years. In THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED: THE STORY OF DON McLEAN’S “AMERICAN PIE,” McLean powerfully reveals and shares the secrets behind his iconic song. In addition, the documentary highlights cultural moments in America’s history that are as relevant now as they were in 1971 when the song was released. The film tells stories of the people who were a part of this moment from the beginning and shows the point of view of a new generation of artists who are motivated by the same values and ideas that inspired the song’s creation.
Tickets from €34.50 including booking fees available now via Ticketmaster.ie
For more visit www.donmclean.com