Yusuf Islam Cancels North American Tour Due to Visa Issues

Yusuf Islam, the British singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, expressed that he was “really upset” on Monday as he announced the cancellation of a North American tour due to a vague “visa issue.”

The 77-year-old artist, who adopted the name Yusuf Islam after converting to Islam in 1977, had to scrap the American leg of the FindOut Book Tour because of challenges with production logistics and administrative matters.

This tour was designed to support his new memoir, Cats on the Road to Search, which was set to begin this week in the United States.

In a social media post, he stated: “Sadly, the FindOut Book Tour in the US and Canada doesn’t seem to be happening in October.”

“I’m really upset! Especially for the fans who have purchased tickets and made plans to see me perform.”

He went on to note, “North American fans might still have a chance to catch the tour if the visa situation gets resolved. However, these dates will be pushed back due to other travel plans, but fans will get a chance to jump on the Peace Train someday.”

He reassured fans that while the tour is delayed, they can still enjoy the books he has released.

The tour was supposed to kick off in Philadelphia on October 2nd, with multiple stops scheduled across the country throughout the month. His scheduled appearance in Toronto on October 8th has also been postponed.

This announcement follows a message from earlier in September where Yusuf faced difficulties regarding US immigration, indicating that the venture was “seriously endangered.”

Yusuf Islam initially gained fame in the 1960s but paused his music career for two decades after converting to Islam. He returned to secular music in the 2000s, performing a six-city concert tour in North America in 2014.