Paul Simon Reveals Location of Final Show
The final show of Paul Simon's farewell tour will be a concert in the park, but not in the park everyone anticipated.
The show will take place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, N.Y., in September.
The Queens native announced Homeward Bound - the Farewell Tour back in February, and then expanded those dates the following month to include a final show at an undisclosed location in New York City.
Many fans predicted the location of that Sept. 22 show would be Central Park, a nod to Simon's 1981 reunion performance and the 1982 live album by Simon & Garfunkel, The Concert in Central Park.
Instead, Simon's last concert will take place in a location tied to his more formative years. "It seems more like fate than coincidence that I should do the final show on this final tour at Flushing Meadows Corona Park," Simon said in a statement. "I could have ridden my bike from home to the park in about 20 minutes, when I was a kid. ... But this is less a goodbye than a farewell. Thank you all for the ride, I had a great time."
It's no surprise that the location is near and dear to his heart. In the hit single "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," from his 1972 self-titled solo album, Simon sings, "I'm on my way/I'm taking my time/But I don't know where/Goodbye to Rosie, the Queen of Corona."
The mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, added in Simon's announcement that when Simon sings "Homeward Bound," "there's no doubt he means New York. The grit, beauty and complexity of this city are woven into Simon's most haunting songs, and our greatest venues have formed the backdrop of his performing career. It's only fitting that this son of Queens comes home to Flushing Meadows Corona Park."
Tickets for the performance go on sale June 29 at 10AM ET, with an American Express Cardholder pre-sale from 10AM June 25 through 10AM June 28. Visit Simon's website for details.