Columbia Press Release

Nothing we don't already know, but it's nice to see Columbia making an effort here, huh?



Neil Diamond's 2001-2002 World Tour Swings Back to America


North American Leg of Record-Breaking Artist's Most Successful Tour To-Date

Opens in New Orleans on September 5

NEW YORK, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Records artist Neil Diamond, who has broken box office records as America's top touring solo artist, is returning to the United States and Canada on the latest leg of what has become the most successful tour of his extraordinary career. Neil Diamond's North American Fall Tour 2002 commences September 5 in New Orleans (see itinerary following). One of the most charismatic and dynamic live performers in pop music history, Diamond will highlight material from his most-recent chart- topping album, Three Chord Opera, as well as selections from his vast catalog of best-selling hits and popular favorites.

Diamond's 2001-2002 world tour finds the artist returning to the classic proscenium (end) stage. "We set out to create a completely new show on a new stage. We added both a horn and a string section to the original band to give both the new songs and old favorites more power than ever before," commented Neil Diamond. "The tour started in late September, 2001, and I feel very good about having been on the road during this tough period for America. The audiences seemed to be more in need of uplifting moments with all that's gone on around the world and I was totally dedicated to giving them just that. The audiences gave the tour a new sense of purpose and mission."

In late September 2001, Neil Diamond embarked on his first major tour in nearly two years. The enormously successful SRO tour has already made two swings through the U.S., hitting Ireland and England in July before returning to North American shores in September/October.

For 35 years, Neil Diamond has been a consummate hitmaker. All-time Diamond classics include "Cracklin' Rosie," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," and "Song Sung Blue" (all #1 hits); "Love On The Rocks," "I Am, I Said," "Cherry, Cherry," "Holly Holy," "Heartlight," "Sweet Caroline," and "Hello Again" (all top 10); "Kentucky Woman," "Forever In Blue Jeans," "Solitary Man," "September Morn," "Soolaimon," and "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show." The Essential Neil Diamond, a comprehensive collection of the artist's biggest hits, was released in December 2001. Over the course of his career, Diamond has sold more than 115 million records worldwide while setting box office records at major venues as a live performer around the world.

Released to stores in July 2001, Three Chord Opera scored the highest chart debut -- #15 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard 200 album chart -- of Neil's career. Three Chord Opera has also achieved the highest first week's sales of any Neil Diamond album in the SoundScan era.

The press warmly embraced Neil Diamond's Three Chord Opera. "These songs combine warm, accessible melodies with introspective, openly romantic lyrics," wrote USA Today while People magazine raved " ... Diamond can blast away in that Big Bertha baritone like no one else ... . The Tin Pan Alley vet continues to produce heroic, shirt-rending pop anthems." Or, as the New York Post pithily put it: "Neil Diamond is cool. Again."

Neil Diamond Fall Tour 2002

Sept. 5 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena

Sept. 8 Memphis, TN The Pyramid

Sept. 10 Reading, PA Sovereign Center

Sept. 12 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun

Sept. 13, 14 Worcester, MA Centrum Centre

Sept. 17 Uniondale, NY Nassau Vet. Memorial Coliseum

Sept. 18 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena

Sept. 20 Portland, ME Cumberland Co. Civic Ctr.

Sept. 21 Albany, NY Pepsi Arena

Sept. 23 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena

Sept. 25 Ottawa, Ont. Corel Centre

Sept. 26, 27 Toronto, Ont. Air Canada Centre

Sept. 29 Winnipeg, Man Winnipeg Arena

Oct. 1 Edmonton, Alb. Skyreach Centre

Oct. 2 Calgary, Alb. Pengrowth Saddledome

Oct. 4 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place