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The show’s opening act first rose to fame with the release of their debut album, Crocodiles. The album was released in 1980 to widespread acclaim and soared into the top 20 on the UK album charts. After the release of their second album Heaven Up Here, the band attained cult fame and secured their place as one of rock’s most beloved bands. The group’s most recent album was released in 2018, The Stars, the Oceans & The Moon, contains reimagined orchestral versions of past material as well as two new songs.

After several line-up changes, the group now consists of founding members Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant. Also set to take the stage in Liverpool are the group’s touring musicians Jez Wing, Kelley Stoltz and Stephen Brannan. Speaking on the group’s forthcoming hometown show, McCulloch has given the following statement, “Two dreams in one – there’s nothing like The Rolling Stones, and there’s nowhere like Anfield.”

The singer continued to express his excitement to open for The Rolling Stones, “I can’t explain how unbelievably happy and proud I am that my band Echo And The Bunnymen are going to be opening up for The Rolling Stones, THE Greatest Rock Roll band in the history of time, at Anfield, the Shrine of Life and football…The Rolling Stones!!! And at Anfield!!! I feel honoured and blessed… Thank you God.”

The Rolling Stones also discussed the Liverpool show, saying, “It’s great to have Echo And The Bunnymen join us as special guests in their home city. We can’t wait to be back on stage in Liverpool! Roll on the summer!” In the statement, the band also expressed their joy to return to the road for their upcoming anniversary tour, the scheduled thirteen shows will be held to celebrate sixty years of the band and their genre defining music.

A statement on the band’s website also describes the importance behind the  “Paint It Back” hitmaker’s tour, “The Stones just keep on rolling! We are thrilled to announce the Rolling Stones 2022 Tour! Titled SIXTY to celebrate 60 special years together – Mick, Keith and Ronnie will be playing dates across Europe this summer, including two shows at London’s BST Hyde Park.”

The tour will kick start with string of European performances; the band are scheduled to begin the tour with a set in Madrid on the 1st of June 2022. The Rolling Stones will then perform in Munich before returning to the UK for their Liverpool performance with Echo & The Bunnymen. On 17th June 2022, the group will return to Europe to perform at Amsterdam, Bern and Millan. Following their three European dates, the band will come home to London to perform at this year’s American Express Presents BST, the rockers will take the Hyde Park stage on 25^th June and 3^rd July 2022. The group will conclude the tour with five more European performances in Brussels, Vienna, Lyon, Paris, Gelsenkirchen and Stockholm.

The Rolling Stones Sixty UK tour dates

09/06 – Anfield Stadium – Liverpool
25/06 – American Express Presents BST Hyde Park – London
03/07 – American Express Presents BST Hyde Park – London

Click here to purchase tickets.

Posting from the Echo & the Bunnymen Twitter account, Sergeant wrote: “I’m so pleased to announce my book, Bunnyman, is coming out on the 15th July, I can’t wait for you to read it and let me know what you think.”  

I’m so pleased to announce my book, Bunnyman, is coming out on the 15th July, I can’t wait for you to read it and let me know what you think.’ Will
you can order your copy here – https://t.co/KhGvuKw5Zd

— Echo & the Bunnymen (@Bunnymen) March 31, 2021

The book is described as follows: “Growing up in Liverpool in the 1960s and ’70s, when skinheads, football violence and fear of just about everything was the natural order of things, a young Will Sergeant found the emerging punk scene provided a shimmer of hope amongst a crumbling city still reeling from the destruction of the Second World War. The book is From school-day horrors and mud flinging fun to nights at Liverpool’s punk club, Eric’s, Sergeant was fuelled by and thrived on music.” 

“It was this devotion that led to the birth of the Bunnymen, to the days when he and Ian McCulloch would muck around with reel-to-reel recordings of song ideas in the back parlour of his parents’ council estate house, and to finding a community – friends, enemies and many in between – with those who would become post-punk royalty from the likes of Dead or Alive, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the Teardrop Explodes to name a few.” 

Echo & the Bunnymen formed in 1978, and released their debut album Crocodiles in 1980, which hit number 17 in the UK Albums Charts. Their next three albums – Heaven Up Here, Porcupine, and Ocean Rain – placed in the chart’s top ten. They are most well-known for single The Killing Moon, which appeared in the film Donnie Darko. Throughout line-up changes and a hiatus, Sergeant has remained the band’s only consistent member. 

The band announced the postponement of their tour earlier this month, posting: “Due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, the Bunnymen May and June 2021 shows have been postponed. The rearranged dates will instead take place in Feb & March 2022. Please keep hold of your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled dates.” 

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, the Bunnymen May and June 2021 shows have been postponed. The rearranged dates will instead take place in Feb & March 2022. Please keep hold of your tickets as they will be valid for the rescheduled dates. pic.twitter.com/lAghzKHHXF — Echo & the Bunnymen (@Bunnymen) March 3, 2021