’80s icon rocks in Americana show

Singer and songwriter John Parr, who is best known for his hits St Elmo’s Fire and Naughty Naughty, will be appearing as a guest star in national tour American Anthems.

In association with Harley Davison, the show takes audiences on a journey from the East to the West Coast of the USA, searching for a rock star who disappeared at the peak of his career in the early ‘90s, to bring him back for one last concert in Madison Square Gardens.

John said: “It’s a biographical story. It wasn’t written for me but the team approached me and it just fitted nicely. The last big show I did was in Madison Square Gardens so that’s a nice touch too.”

As well as touring with American Anthems, John is preparing to release his first album since 1996 – Letter to America – a double album featuring 29 tracks, both old and new.

John had a string of hit albums in the ’80s and ’90s and sold more than ten million records worldwide.

He has written tracks for blockbuster movies and huge stars including Roger Daltrey and Tom Jones, as well as working with people like Meat Loaf, Tina Turner and Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange.

The talented musician, who has two sons, has helped to raise a quarter of a billion pounds for spinal injury research as his song St Elmo’s Fire ‘Man in Motion’ is the anthem for the Rick Hansen Foundation.

John said: “I only write music that inspires me. I’ve been performing for the American military and it’s humanitarian stuff that inspires a lot of my music. To listen to it sounds like contemporary music, you wouldn’t necessarily know, but it all comes from subjects that are close to my heart.”

Yorkshireman John’s music career was brought to a shuddering halt 20 years ago due to lengthy litigation proceedings which were only finished last year.

John said: “Now that I’ve finally won my case, I can’t wait to get back into music. I’m looking forward to performing in smaller, more intimate venues with this tour as it just creates such a fantastic atmosphere.”

The American Anthems show has a hugely talented cast of singers, dancers and live band and features some of the greatest American Anthems including Born To Run, Livin’ On A Prayer, We Built This City, Bat Out of Hell, Proud Mary, Born to be Wild, St Elmo’s Fire, Walking in Memphis, Sweet Child of Mine, and many more.

To find out more about John and his work, visit www.johnparramerica.com.

For tickets to American Anthems, visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01582 602080.