Bette Midler to open tour at Verizon
By MICHAEL COUSINEAU
Union Leader Staff
MANCHESTER — Four-time Grammy winner Bette Midler will open her latest concert tour at Verizon Wireless Arena on Sept. 30 and may rehearse there in the days leading up to her kickoff.
“It is anticipated this will be the first date on the tour and details on whether or not rehearsals will take place at the arena are still being worked out,” said Tim Bechert, general manager for SMG, which manages the arena.
The 10,000-seat arena already has hosted two bands that spent time tuning up for their tours.
Boston, with lead singer Brad Delp hailing from the state’s southern tier, and hard-core Korn both set up shop here prior to their tours.
“It’s close to home and you guys have this really nice new arena there,” Bay State resident Tom Scholz, founder and guitarist for Boston, said before opening their tour in June 2003.
In October 2002, Korn spent four or five days practicing before opening its tour.
“It establishes us as a band-friendly building,” Bechert said of bands choosing to rehearse and open up in Manchester.
Tickets for Midler’s show go on sale sometime next week. Details are being worked out, Bechert said.
Her four Grammys include song of the year for “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “From a Distance” and record of the year with “Wind Beneath My Wings.” She also holds two Academy Award nominations, three Emmy Awards, one Tony Award, three Golden Globe honors and nine American Comedy Awards, according to her Web site.
She has sold more than 14 million records, it said.
Her movie credits include “Ruthless People,” “The Rose” and “The Stepford Wives,” which hit theaters this year.
