May 7, 2008

 

 

Two of the most significant singer-songwriters of rock’s golden era will perform in the finale of this year’s Legends of Rock & Roll series at the Michigan Theater on Friday, August 8 at 8:00 PM. Both JOHN SEBASTIAN, the lead vocalist and writer for THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL and ROGER McGUINN, the frontman for THE BYRDS, were the central figures in bands that rose to the top of the charts in the mid-1960’s in response to the British Invasion.

SEBASTIAN’s hits with THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL include “Daydream,” “Do You Believe in Magic?” “Summer in the City,” “Nashville Cats,” and many more. He launched his solo career at Woodstock in 1969, releasing several notable albums and reaching Number One 1976 with “Welcome Back.”

THE BYRDS exploded on the scene with a cover version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr.Tambourine Man,” and followed with a long string of hits, written or co-written by McGUINN, including “Turn, Turn, Turn,” “Eight Miles High,” “So You Want To Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” and many more. His solos career has been decidedly less pop-oriented, yielding several excellent albums, including “Cardiff Rose” and “Back from Rio.” McGUINN was a primary influence on both Tom Petty and R.E.M. and, consequently, more than forty years and two different generations of American music.
SEBASTIAN and McGUINN will each perform a solo set and they will also perform together. This event is co-presented by the Ark.

Reserved seats are $25 and $39.50 with limited Gold Circle seating at $75. Available at ticketmaster.com, the Michigan Union Ticket Office and other Ticketmaster locations and by phone at 734-763-TKTS or 248-645-6666, starting Saturday, May 10 at 9:00 AM.