Todd Rundgren will headline a new U.S. tour that pay tribute to the music of the late, great songwriting icon Burt Bacharach. The trek, dubbed “What the World Needs Now: The Burt Bacharach Songbook Live in Concert,” features 22 confirmed dates.
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The tour kicks off March 22 in Ventura, California, and running through an April 23 show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Rundgren will be joined on the trek by Wendy Moten, the runner-up on the 2021 season of The Voice, as well as special guests. The show was organized by former Bacharach music director and arranger Rob Shirakbari, who will lead a nine-piece ensemble featuring musicians who previously have worked with Brian Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Adele, Stevie Wonder, and Elvis Costello, as well as Rundgren.
The musicians taking part in the trek include longtime Rundgren bassist Kasim Sulton and Wilson touring band member Probyn Gregory.
The tour is being co-produced by Angelo Bundini, who also produced and created the Celebrating David Bowie tribute trek. Rundgren was one of the featured performers on the 2022 edition of the Celebrating David Bowie tour.
About Tickets for the Bacharach Tribute Tour
Tickets for “What the World Needs Now” tour go on sale to the general public this Friday, January 17, at 10 a.m. local time. VIP packages and meet & great experiences also will be available. The VIP packages offer premium seats, early entry, a pre-show meet & great and photo, a limited-edition autographed poster, and other collectible merch items.
Fans interested in purchasing early tickets may want to check StubHub.
Visit WhattheWorldNeedsNow.net for more information.
Comments About the Tour from Rundgren and Others
In a statement, Rundgren explained why he decided to take part in the “What the World Needs Now” trek even though he’d developed an aversion to tribute tours.
“After Celebrating David Bowie I swore that I was done with tribute tours,” he admitted. “But there is too much Bacharach in my blood to let the opportunity to explore the depth and breadth of this libretto pass by.”
Todd continued, “It may be that I not only owe a debt for his great influence, I squandered an opportunity to meet the Master when I failed to play ‘Hello It’s Me’ the time he quietly joined the audience solely to hear it. It may also be that I would feel unbearable envy for whomever was lucky enough to perform the music that meant so much to me.”
He also noted that he considers Bacharach “the greatest songwriter of my lifetime.”
Meanwhile, Dionne Warwick, one of Bacharach’s most famous collaborators, shared some enthusiastic praise for Shirakbari, who now serves as her arranger and music director.
“In a word, WOW!!” Dionne declared. “I’m very happy for this wonderful project landing in what I know are Rob’s more than capable hands. I could burst with pride!”
Shirakbari added, “From a very young age I developed my skillset sitting six feet away from Burt. I could see his hands and hear every note up close… see his every move conducting the orchestra. And now as we carry that legacy forward, the songs are the star of this show, and all of us onstage are here to serve the music, as Burt intended. I know in my heart that Burt would be proud of this show and happy that his music lives onstage, reaching his fans—old and new.”
Rundgren’s Other 2025 Tour Plans
Prior to the Bacharach tribute tour, Rundgren has some overseas concerts lined up.
The 76-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will kick off his 2025 itinerary with two shows in Japan, on February 28 in Yokohama and March 3 in Tokyo.
Rundgren will then head to Australia for a six-date tour running from March 6 in Melbourne trough a March 15 concert in Chatswood.
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