Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf) has cancelled his first New York appearance in 40 years, in protest over ticket touts.

Last week, the singer announced a string of live dates – his first tour since 1976 – to take place in Europe and North America in November and December. However, he has now pulled his New York show due to the city’s restrictions on paperless tickets, which he believes leads to touts selling tickets at inflated prices.

“Unfortunately I will not be performing in NYC this time around but I am looking forward to playing for fans in Philadelphia on December 4 and hope to return to NYC at a future date,” a statement on his website reads. “My fans will understand and I thank them for informing me about the extortionate tickets prices already being listed on some websites. I have been a longtime supporter of paperless tickets to my shows worldwide and avoiding scalpers.”

He added: “Unfortunately NY has a state law that requires all tickets sold for shows in NYC to be paper, enabling them to be bought and sold at inflated prices. I’m sorry about not being able to now play in NYC but hope to find an opportunity that aligns with my support of this issue in the near future, God willing. Looks like the Peace Train is going to arrive at New York a little bit later than expected.”

The singer also reiterated the point on his Facebook page, linking to an old interview in which he hit out at ticket touts: “I was so angry that at one point I seriously considered buying the tickets off of the touts and re-distributing them to my loyal fans,” he said.

The Peace Train… Late Again tour coincides with the release of Tell ‘Em I’m Gone, a blues album produced by Rick Rubin.

Yusef will play:

London Hammersmith Apollo (November 4, 5)

Los Angeles Nokia Theatre (14)