The Temptations and The Four Tops return to the UK four years after their last UK appearance, for a 40th Anniversary tour in June and July 2026. The tour culminates in a performance at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London on 3rd July.
Almost 60 years after they first performed in the UK, these two Motown giants will join forces as co-headliners with decades of chart-topping hits, unforgettable harmonies and sing-a-long nostalgia that transcends generations.
Expect an evening of Top 40 hits and Number One singles including “Reach Out I’ll Be There”, “It’s The Same Old Song”, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”, “My Girl”, “Get Ready”, and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone”, and many others.
Otis Williams, sole surviving original member of The Temptations says: “I always, always love coming to the UK. I think of it as my second home. The people here make us feel so at home. They love and appreciate the music and they have always strongly supported us. They are so loyal and dedicated. What’s not to love about coming to the UK?”
One of the Four Tops, Lawrence Payton Jr. says: “The Temptations with their choreography is matched by no one. When they first came out, it was so exciting to see that. It was something we’d never seen before. With the Four Tops, there’s the vocal prowess. You had that bellowing lead voice of Levi and those beautiful harmonies that they put together. So it’s like a perfect contrast. We’re not going to out-dance them and they’re not going to out-sing us”.
The Temptations led by founding member Dr. Otis Williams – in his 64th year with the group – joined by Ron Tyson, a member now for 42 years and Terry Weeks, now in his third decade with the group along with Tony Grant and Jawan M. Jackson. The group has a catalogue of 37 Top 40 singles including four Number Ones. Formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961, The Temptations original line-up featured Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Elbridge “Al” Bryant and they quickly caught the attention of Motown Records.
After Bryant was replaced by David Ruffin in 1964, the group solidified what would become known as the “Classic Five.” Their breakthrough came with the Smokey Robinson-penned hit “My Girl”, which topped the US chart in 1965 and became their signature song, achieving a seven times Platinum award.
Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, The Temptations dominated the charts with a string of hits including “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, “I Wish It Would Rain”, and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).” They were known not only for their vocal prowess but also for their slick suits and synchronized dance moves, setting a new standard for R&B performance. They evolved musically over the years embracing psychedelic funk with tracks like “Cloud Nine”, “Psychedelic Shack”, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”,. and the biting social commentary of “Ball Of Confusion”.
The Four Tops originally came together as The Four Aims in 1953 comprising Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton, before changing to the Four Tops in 1956 when they released a number of early singles on Chess Records and Columbia Records. This line-up would remain constant for almost half a century.
In 1963 they were discovered by Berry Gordy Jr. of Motown to record kazz standards and sing in sessions for the likes of The Supremes, but their big break came when the song writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland handed them the song “Baby I Need Your Loving”, giving them a Top 20 hit, their first in a string of 24 US Top 20 singles, including two Number One`s and 21 UK Top 40 singles.
10 reaching the Top 10 including the timeless classics, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), “Reach Out I’ll Be There”, “Bernadette”, “Walk Away Renee” and “It’s The Same Old Song”. After more than 30 years since forming they continued to ride high in the charts with “Indestructible”, a collaboration with Smokey Robinson, and “Loco In Acapulco”, from the “Buster” film soundtrack.
The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and in 2009 received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. In 2024 founder member Abdul “Duke” Fakir passed away at the age of 88 after more than 70 years in the Four Tops. [Read our 2018 interview with “Duke” at the bottom of this page].
Lawrence Payton Jr. reveals: “Duke said to us, I know that you guys can continue this, but you have to continue it and do things the way the Four Tops did, with love, honour and just be true to yourself and true to the music. That, more than anything, is what’s important to me.”
Today, the group is led by long-time members Lawrence Payton Jr., son of founder member Lawrence Payton, alongside Theo Peoples formerly of The Temptations, and Ronnie McNeir with almost 50 years of Four Tops service between them, and who have recently been joined by Michael Brock, with the blessing of the families of the original members to actively preserve their enduring legacy.
The Temptations and Four Tops UK Tour Dates 2026
30th June 2026: Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
1st July 2026: Bournemouth International Centre
3rd July 2026: London Royal Albert Hall
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