Simon & Garfunkel Poised for Concert Tour

Associated Press ^ | September 6, 2003 | DAVID BAUDER

[dfwgator]

NEW YORK (AP) — Unless they get in yet another squabble, it looks like Paul Simon (news) and Art Garfunkel (news) are reuniting for a concert tour.

The former duo has reserved dates at concert arenas across the country, said Gary Bongiovanni, editor of Pollstar, a concert industry trade publication. And they were scheduled to make a "very special announcement" at a New York nightclub on Tuesday, publicists said.

There has been talk of a tour since Simon & Garfunkel performed together to open the Grammy Awards ceremony in February, and they've done the logistical groundwork, Bongiovanni said.

"Everyone's been expecting it," he said. "It was still in the speculative stages, because you never know when Artie and Paul will get in a fight and call the whole thing off."

The mega-selling folk-rock duo broke up more than three decades ago and they've had a fractious relationship since. They put their arms around each other after singing "The Sound of Silence" at the Grammys (news - web sites).

They've reunited periodically, most notably for a concert tour of stadiums in 1983 and for a series of shows in 1993, Bongiovanni said.

The duo's publicists wouldn't say anything Friday about the announcement, to be held at the Bottom Line.

The New York-bred duo, known for Garfunkel's angelic voice and Simon's writing prowess, scored hits with "The Boxer," "Mrs. Robinson" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Offstage, these old friends had trouble creating the same harmony. When he was inducted as a solo artist into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, Simon said of Garfunkel, "I regret the ending of our friendship, and I hope that one day before I die we will make peace with each other.

After the audience applauded warmly, Simon deadpanned, "No rush."

[The Other Harry]

I might just go to that...

[G.Mason]

"Simon & Garfunkel Poised for Concert Tour"

No rush.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Exactly!

We don't need a garden party with these two old farts. It's bad enough that the Stones are still touring and even the Doors want to start up.

[RJCogburn]

I'm an old enough fart to want to go.

Their music was fun. You prefer rap, perhaps?

[dfwgator]

You have to admit that S&G's songs are a little more appropriate for guys in their 60's than a 60 year-old Mick Jagger still singing "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."

[mtbopfuyn]

This old fart remembers nice times listening to them.

[AF68]

Yeah, I "can't get no girlie action" anyway.

[ChemistCat]

I'm too crowdophobic to GO but I'll be buying the CDs and DVDs.

I know someone who saw them perform when they were first starting out in Greenwich Village, before they hit the big time.

Anybody else like their solo albums just as much as their joint projects? But Garfunkle has the better voice and Simon is the superior lyricist and musician overall. I'm hoping they come up with some new material. It's probably harder to do that when you don't get along.