Cat Stevens Tour 2015: Legendary rock star Cat Stevens, who has gone by the name Yusuf Islam since shortly after his conversion to Islam in 1977, kicked off the United States leg of his world tour in Philadelphia on Dec. 4.

The Peace Train singer's tour has been marred by ticket price inflation and security issues. Stevens canceled his New York City show, which would have been his first appearance in the city in 40 years, over "extortionate" ticket prices. According to The Guardian, Cat Stevens has had complaints about ticket prices since the 1970s.

Although Cat and dogs found peace, has Stevens been dogged by controversy since he changed his name to Yusef Islam. Yusuf wrote a letter to the Toronto Star saying he has been the victim of "dragon-sized myths" and "unsavory controversies" since he converted to Islam.

"Peace has always been my objective; sadly, that isn't the case for everybody," he wrote. "That's why I have called my tour 'Peace Train ... Late Again!' Stigmas, the same as dirt and mud, are very hard to remove once they've been attached. However, for those who really listened to my lyrics - old and new - the message is still clearly there."

This is Islam's first tour of the U.S. almost 40 years. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year and released his new album "Tell 'Em I'm Gone" in October.

The new album features 10 brand-new studio recordings, including five original tracks and five carefully-chosen cover songs.

Cat Stevens was one of biggest-selling singer songwriters of the early '70s. Before he was Yusef Islam he had such hits as "Peace Train," "Wild World" and "The First Cut Is the Deepest" which has been heavily covered by other artists. Cat Stevens has always been about spirituality and peace. The man who called himself Cat had his one of his first hits declaring his love of his dog.

Cat Stevens, who was born Steven Georgiou and is now Yusuf Islam, had huge hits with such songs as "Wild World," "Father and Son" and "Peace Train." He put out a comeback album "An Other Cup," in 2006.

On "Tell 'Em I'm Gone" Yusuf returns to the music he loved when he was young. In a statement, Cat said "Hidden in the background behind my renowned troubadour persona lurked an R&B alter-self waiting to be let free. What's powerful and profound, to me, is the overall message which emerged, lyrically. It suddenly stared me in the face: the innate struggle for Freedom! Isn't that what most human beings dream of? Music and the blues particularly was a means of escape for many chained to the destiny of the rich and powerful."

The Cat Steves tour is called "Peace Train ... Late Again." The American tour will be followed by a European tour.