Aimee Mann in 2021 (Photo via her Facebook page)
Aimee Mann is the second performer to reveal in recent months that she’s no longer serving as an opening act for Steely Dan’s 2022 tour. The singer-songwriter, best known for the hit single, “Voices Carry,” with her band ‘Til Tuesday, revealed on March 16 that she had been dropped from the tour. “I just found out they took me off the bill. It seems they thought their audience wouldn’t like a female singer-songwriter,” she wrote. Mann’s announcement follows the Feb. 1 news from Steve Winwood that he would no longer be part of the Steely Dan bill. Their pairing was originally planned for 2020 and was first moved to 2021 and subsequently to spring and summer of this year.) Winwood’s brief announcement cited “unforeseen circumstances.”
In a four-panel comic strip that Mann posted to her Instagram, she wrote, “As it happens, Steely Dan is the one band that I 100% love, with no reservations, so it really sucks.”
View this post on Instagram
In a statement, Donald Fagen said, “The idea that I would make any decision based on the gender of a performer is ridiculous. That’s something that would never even occur to me.
Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen at Dodger Stadium, July 16, 2017 (via The Classic Facebook page)
“There was a communication problem on our end,” he added. “I was misinformed as to how firm the commitment was to any particular opening act. And, although I have the greatest respect for Aimee as a writer and performer, I thought it might not be the best matchup in terms of musical style.
“But I can’t pass the buck. I’ll take the blame for the screwup. I apologize for any distress this has caused Aimee and her fans.”
Mann told Variety that she accepted Fagen’s explanation for the “screwup” which occurred when Winwood announced that he was pulling out of the tour.
“He probably didn’t even know what stage it was in, something I can easily see happening,” she said.
“I totally disagree about the style thing, though. I know so many people who are fans of mine and fans of theirs, and way more women than were fans in the ’70s. It’s not as segmented as it used to be.”
Watch Mann perform “Voices Carry” in 2018
Steely Dan and Winwood toured together before, as recently as 2016. It would have been a welcome return to the stage for Winwood, who hasn’t performed since he played a handful of dates in 2019. The veteran musician will turn 74 on May 12, just one week before he was to begin the tour.
The original bill, when the tour was planned for 2020
Steely Dan, still continuing as Donald Fagen’s touring band, have significantly expanded the Earth After Hours tour of North American amphitheaters since it was originally announced. It lists Snarky Puppy as opening act through June 19.
Tickets for the 2022 tour can be purchased here.
From the tour’s original Jan. 15, 2020, announcement: Steely Dan was formed by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen nearly five decades ago and has captivated millions of fans for years with a unique fusion of jazz-rock. The Grammy award-winning group became renowned for their multifaceted, one-of-a-kind horn and guitar arrangements on singles like “Reelin’ In The Years,” “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “Dirty Work,” “Do It Again,” and a slew of others.
Becker died in 2017.
Watch Fagen and Co. perform a favorite in 2018
Related: Our Album Rewind of Steely Dan’s Aja
Singer-songwriter-musician Steve Winwood began his prominent career over 50 years ago and has sold over 50 million records. A primary figure in rock and roll, Winwood has helped create some of the genre’s most celebrated achievements. As a member of the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, and a prominent solo career, he is beloved for such favorites as “Gimme Some Lovin’,” “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” “Can’t Find My Way Home,” “Back In The High Life Again,” and “Higher Love.”
Steely Dan 2022 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)
May 20 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum*
May 21 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre*
May 25 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion*
May 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl*
May 28 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*
May 31 – Phoenix, AZ – AK-Chin Pavilion*
Jun 02 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena*
Jun 03 – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman*
Jun 05 – Austin, TX – ACL Live
Jun 06 – Austin, TX – ACL Live
Jun 10 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP*
Jun 14 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park*
Jun 16 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center*
Jun 18 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre*
Jun 19 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
Jun 21 – Saratoga Springs, NY – SPAC
Jun 23 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
Jun 25 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
Jun 26 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
Jun 29 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Jun 30 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Jul 02 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Jul 03 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Jul 13 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Jul 15 – Richmond, VA – Landmark Theater
Jul 16 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
Jul 19 – Durham, NC – Durham PAC
Jul 20 – Jacksonville, FL – Moran Theater
Jul 22 – St. Petersburg, FL – The Mahaffey
Jul 22 – St. Petersburg, FL – The Mahaffey
Jul 26 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach
Jul 27 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach
Jul 29 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach
Jul 30 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach
Aug 01 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center For the Perf. Arts
Aug 02 – Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center For the Perf. Arts
Aug 04 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston PAC
Aug 06 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata
Aug 07 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Aug 10 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Aug 12 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
Aug 13 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
*with Snarky Puppy
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
11 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationGreat double bill !!
Yes,! it was great double bill. Steve Winwood decides unforeseen circumstances is the reason. I have had tix since 2020. Most disappointing. Like to see the whole combo, hope Steely Dan’s promoters have some else up their sleeve?
6 March 2022
IF 2022 was a washout for Steve Winwood in 2022, will he join STEELY DAN in 2023 ?
Will I be able to EXCHANGE my Tickets of 2 years waiting to the NEW DATE in 2023 ?
Kiss and make up and go on tour together.
The double bill of Steely Dan with Winwood is a powerful combination tgat would no doubt draw ticket buyers for both acts. As wonderful as she is, it’s doubtful that Aimee Mann would have that kind of double bill drawing power, and would be relegated to a more traditional ooening act status, albeit a very cool opening act that I’d like to see. That’s the only possible reason i can think of why Fagen would have such an accomplished songwriter/musician bumped from the bill. It’s the audience’s loss. But still one has to ask who has the stature of Winwood that wouldn’t want to be a headliner themselves?
Probably an unpopular opinion, but I would have only gone to see that show FOR Aimee and/or Steve Winwood.
Steely Dan is just….so…basic. I’ve been hearing them for 40 years. And my impression has been the same for 40 years. Basic. Repetitive. Redundant.
“Rikki…” is their only commendable song. Every other one just sounds like another iteration of all the others. They should have been opening for Aimee.
Could not disagree more. SD live is an incredible evening guaranteed. I love all three acts but Steely Dan has a large first class catalog.
I’ve seen Steely Dan so many times over the years dating back to 1974 that people will no longer go with me. Having Steve Winwood join the tour was my reason to go one last time. Funny thing is I now enjoy the Steely Damned 2 more than Steely Dan itself. More intimate setting and a better eclectic mix of songs. Hope you all enjoy it but I have to bow out this year.
I consider that Stevie Winwood dumped US. I have waited 2 yrs. I have 2 4th. row center tix. I paid big bucks for! Now on May 21st. I find the switch! What a bad trip. I am very very disappointed.
Greg Chick – my heart sunk in that very same boat. I was stunned when all of a sudden Winwood’s name just disappeared from the bill. I’ve been digging for a reason ever since. I’m still *Buyin’ the Thrill* of seeing Steely Dan live; though now I’m just counting on Walter Becker’s spirit to be conspicuous in place of his cherished presence. More than a jagged little pill to swallow. Fortunate for all that Fagan’s electric, larger-than-life persona will swing that show right into its Countdown to Ecstasy ~ and get us there on cue. I def got a bit sideways just *seeing* name like “Snarky Puppy” pop up on the bill one day – I mean, WhoTF? That’s when I had to reassure myself that as long as I know they’re Faganized – i.e., a Steely Dan seal of approval – that’s good enough for me. One of history’s most prolific, versatile, inventive and light-years- ahead-of-the-scene ‘geniusician’ [yes, Donald Fagan] would never be down to be billed with any less than at least a good mesh for his incredible, lofty standards. You with me, Dr. Wu? ⭐
I love jazz, but to say that a jazz guitar instrumental trio, which is what (for now) has replaced Aimee Mann is a better match is just weird. I wanted to see Stevie Winwood, COVID blew that. Put Snarky Puppy on the bill in Mansfield on July 2nd, not a jazz guitarist.