Cat Stevens is tired of people ‘blowing up the tracks of this peace train’

Cat Stevens is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of all time. His hits Hard Headed Woman and Peace Train are considered classics.

He shocked the world after massive hits like Father and Son by renouncing music and embracing Islam in 1977.  Dropping the name Cat Stevens for Yusuf Islam he focused his life more on a spiritual journey and left the spotlight.

Eventually, the call of music was too strong and he found his way back.  In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, he said, “One doesn’t stay at the top of a mountain all the time”.  He added, “Eventually Moses comes down. He mentions that people should never have to grow up but there are those that are taking the fun out of life.  He said, “There’s a lot of room on here but unfortunately there are people who seem to want to spend their lives blowing up the tracks of this peace train.”

The music business was drastically different when he rejoined the industry, he stated, “It was kind of a different world, you know. There were like the Amy Winehouses and Beyonces around and I thought, wow, this is different.”

Fans came back to his music and even new fans emerged. He believes the desire for peace that brings people back.  He told the interviewer, “If you look at you know the rise of movements like ISIS, there’s no wonder why I’ve come back singing again. Getting us back to that place in humanity when we can start to meet again and feel connections … It’s part of my role now to do that.”

Yusuf is touring Australia in December.

Are you a fan of Cat Stevens?  What’s your favourite song?