Sir Paul McCartney announces European tour

It will be the singer's only headlining UK show of 2009
Sir Paul McCartney will perform his first European tour for five years in December, he has announced.
The Good Evening Europe tour will see the singer take in six cities including Berlin and Paris, before finishing at London's O2 Arena on 22 December.

The last time the former Beatle played an arena show in London was in April 2003 at Earl's Court. It will be the first time he has performed at the O2.

Tickets for the concerts will go on sale on Monday 26 October.

The tour will open on 2 December in Hamburg, where the Beatles honed their sound with live performances in clubs between 1960 and 1962.

"This is my chance to bring our current show home to where it all began, starting in Hamburg, ending in London and rocking everywhere in between," Sir Paul said.

"I'm very much looking forward to ending the year on a high."

Although it will be Sir Paul's first public performance at the O2, he used the venue - then known as the Millennium Dome - to rehearse for his summer tour of Europe in 2004, which ended with his headline spot at the Glastonbury Festival.

The December gig will be the singer's only headlining UK show of 2009, but he will also be among performers at a charity concert for Children in Need on 12 November at London's Royal Albert Hall. photo AP

Tour Dates
2-December - Hamburg Color Line Arena
3-December - Berlin O2 World
9-December - Arnhem Gelredome
10-December - Paris Bercy
16-December - Cologne Koln Arena
20-December - Dublin O2
22-December - London O2 Arena