john ondrasik tour 2022

Interview: Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik Talks New Tour, Musical Theatre and Composing

Five For Fighting plays The Pabst Theatre on Wednesday, 8/10

Says Ondrasik: "After years of string quartet, symphony, and solo concerts, I'm thrilled to put the Five for Fighting rock band back on the road! It is fitting that we are joined by my good friend Brian Vander Ark's The Verve Pipe as his song, 'The Freshmen,' was a brother in arms to 'Superman' and '100 Years' for so many when they were released. There has never been a time when audiences and musicians need each other more, and I am energized and excited to get back on the bus, and go 'Back to the Future!'"

John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting continues to stand the test of time. Selling millions of albums, including the Platinum-selling "America Town" and "The Battle For Everything," his Grammy ® nominated song, "Superman (It's Not Easy)," the worldwide hit single, went Platinum, and was #1 on Adult Top 40, #2 on Hot AC and in the Top 40 Top 10. "Superman" becoming an anthem for the heroes of 9-11, and Ondrasik performed the song at The Concert for New York City. His standard "100 Years" went 2X Platinum and continues to give every age group a lifetime's moment of reflection and nostalgia. Other hit tracks include the certified Gold "Changes," What If," "Easy Tonight," "World," and "The Riddle."

Ondrasik's songs have been featured in more than 250 films, television shows and advertisements. His tunes have been included in the Academy Award-winning film "The Blind Side" ("Chances"), "Hawaii Five-O" ("All for One"), and "The Sopranos" ("World"), to name a few. His voice has been heard for the WWE, Disney and L.A. Kings' Stanley Cup Championship video; in addition the CBS series "Code Black." He has also penned tunes for artists ranging from Josh Groban , Tim McGRaw , The Backstreet Boys , and more.

In addition to making music, Ondrasik performs for the USO, and has keynote speaking engagements across the globe. A great supporter of the U.S. military, Ondrasik has given away five volumes of compilation "CD for the Troops" albums to our U.S. Armed Forces. Over one million copies have been distributed to soldiers worldwide. Additionally, the charity site, www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com , inspired by his song, "World," saw fans uploading videos showing their respective interpretations of a better world. That initiative raised more than $250,000 for five designated charities - Augie's Quest, Autism Speaks, Fisher House Foundation, Save the Children and Operation Homefront.

More recently, Ondrasik launched his new episodic web docu-series titled "Meet The Heroes," which features Ondrasik interviewing heroic Americans who are involved in rescuing and evacuating American citizens, SIV holders, Green Card Holders, Afghan allies, and persons of high risk from Afghanistan.

BWW's Kevin Pollack recently sat down with John to talk about the new tour.

FIVE FOR FIGHTING TOUR DATES INCLUDE:

Tuesday, August 9 St. Louis, MO The Pageant

Wednesday, August 10 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre

Friday, August 12 Bay City, MI Wenonah Park World Friendship Shell

For more information and to buy tickets, visit: https://fiveforfighting.com/

Milwaukee, WI SHOWS

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The only way for a story to progress is to turn the page. John Ondrasik — the songwriter and performer known as the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Five For Fighting —knows this well. In the two decades since his first major single, “ Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere, the artist has both evolved and come back ‘round full circle. Creativity, if nothing else, is paradoxical. 

To date, Five For Fighting , has released six studio LPs, including the platinum certified  America Town   and  The Battle for Everything ; and the top-10 charting Two Lights , along with an EP and live albums. 

Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “ 100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned over one billion streams and place him as a top-10 Hot Adult Contemporary artist for the 2000s. The reflective “ 100 Years ” has joined “ Superman (It’s Not Easy)” as part of the American Songbook and continues to stand the test of time at weddings, birthdays, graduations, memorials, and many a home video. Five For Fighting’s music has also been featured in more than 350 films, television shows, and commercials, including the Oscar-winning  The Blind Side ,  Hawaii Five-O ,   The Sopranos and the CBS drama,  Code Black . 

Referencing Fight For Fighting’s success in the 2000s, AllMusic called Ondrasik “ one of the decade’s leading balladeers.” But p erhaps his biggest achievement is performing “ Superman (It’s Not Easy),” at the 2001 Concert for New York, a benefit show at Madison Square Garden that honored first responders and the fallen about a month after the tragic September 11 th attacks. Ondrasik performed alongside other big-name artists like Paul McCartney, The Who, Elton John, Billy Joel, and dozens more. 

Says Ondrasik, “It was a surreal experience. I was honored and blessed to pay tribute to the heroes who ran into those buildings at ground zero, and hopefully, through a song, provide a little solace to family members who’d lost loved ones.”

Now, though, what once was a dream is a reality. Buoyed by his unique falsetto voice and his prowess on the piano—a skill bestowed to him by his piano teacher mother—Ondrasik has made a solid reputation for himself in the world of songwriting and performance, selling upwards of three million albums over his career. Not only does he tour with his popular string quartet and play solo and rock band gigs, but he is also a high demand keynote speaker in which he combines themes of creativity and innovation with his business acumen.  Along with his father, he has managed the family business throughout his musical career.  As Ondrasik happily puts it, his company, Precision Wire Products, “makes the best shopping cart in the world!”

He’s presented at TEDx, The Salk Institute, American Cancer Society, and dozens more. Perhaps being the son of an astrophysicist dad and having a degree in mathematics from UCLA has something to do with it. 

  “Math was the Plan-B to get a real job when the music thing imploded,” says Ondrasik, with a chuckle.  

But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t always a student at heart. As he wrote songs in his late teens and early 20s, the Los Angeles-born Ondrasik studied his favorite rock vocalists. Finding out that singers like Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry studied classical voice, he did too, even seeking out some of those icons’ former teachers. No stone unturned.

  In September of 2021, Ondrasik released the powerful, “Blood on My Hands,” a protest song that takes a non-political, moral stance against the 2021 United States chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. 

While he’s well-versed in politics, he isn’t of a bickering mindset. For Ondrasik, it’s about the conversation. “Blood on My Hands,” the track, accompanying acoustic version, and docu-music video, “ Blood on My Hands (White House Version),” has had millions of streams to date (despite little-to-no radio play). Like other protest songs of the past— “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or “The Times They Are a-Changin’” by Bob Dylan—Ondrasik aimed to point out a problem. While it’s critical of President Biden’s administration, he says that if a Republican were President, the song would remain the same, only the names would change.  

Thanks to the song, years later, Ondrasik is still working with evacuation groups that strive to help the American citizens left behind in Afghanistan by the U.S. government, as well as the Afghan people who remain there largely under the threat of terrorism. It’s a difficult, and at times a polarizing subject, but it’s one Ondrasik is not shying away from. Not because of any politics or partisan pats on the back, but simply because he knows it’s the right thing to do.  

Ondrasik notes, “There has been a tradition of musicians speaking truth to power. In the current tribal culture, our freedom of expression has never been more critical.”

In 2022, Ondrasik released “Can One Man Save The World?” with a powerful companion music video, featuring the Ukrainian Orchestra filmed in Ukraine.  The song, inspired by the courage of President Vladimir Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine, asks the nation, and the world, to stand up for core values of freedom and justice.

Moved to action that extended beyond songwriting, Ondrasik entered an area, outside of Kyiv, that had seen heavy combat shortly after the Russians pulled back from the capital with an American production crew. 

“I was honored to perform my new Ukraine tribute song Can One Man Save the World ? with the Ukrainian Orchestra in the ruins of the Antonov Airport – in front of the Ukrainians’ beloved Mriya, the world’s largest cargo plane that Russia destroyed at the outset of the war,” said Ondrasik. “In sharing this musical collaboration on such hallowed ground, I saw firsthand the fortitude and grace of the Ukrainian people, who whether playing a violin or driving a tank, will not be deterred by Putin’s atrocities and aggressions.”

Proceeds from the single and its companion video benefit the NGO Save Our Allies and further its mission of providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Afghanistan.  

Recently, Ondrasik released the song , “OK, ” along with a heart wrenching documentary music video that speaks to the Hamas attacks on Israel of Oct 7 th, 2023, and the cultural aftermath both in the United States and around the world. 

“On October 10 th , 2023, the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, made a powerful speech, decrying the celebrations of Hamas massacres across New York City. His words of conscience , “We Are Not Alright , ” begin my new song and music video , “OK,” which addresses the barbaric Hamas October 7 attacks in Israel, and the global fallout that resulted.  

Such is the theme of this song.  In short, “We Are Not OK. ”

The “OK” (We Are Not OK) video has impacted globally with millions of streams. On April 13th, 2024 Ondrasik performed “OK” and “Superman” at “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv for hostage families, and the nation of Israel, hours before Iran launched its missile attack.

A Wall Street Journal feature headlined “A Lone Voice Sings for Israel” recognized Ondrasik as one of the few artists in the music industry to condemn Hamas and publicly call for the release of the hostages.

Say’s John, who is not Jewish,  “Something’s deeply wrong in the culture when people can’t come out and say that what happened on Oct. 7 was evil. No context. No buts. How did we get to a place where our music stars can’t condemn pure atrocities?”

Throughout his multi-decade career, which began when music publisher Carla Berkowitz (now his wife of 25 years) discerned him in a dive bar, Ondrasik has been involved in multiple charity efforts. Along with supporting the troops via multiple USO tours, Ondrasik created “The CD For the Troops” project with song and comedy compilations featuring artists like Billy Joel, Melissa Ethridge, Chris Rock, and others, gifting more than one million CDs to veterans and military families. John has also been deeply involved with the ALS charity “Augie’s Quest.” and is an ambassador for his pal Gary supporting the  Gary Sinise Foundation . 

While he may not be as obsessive as he once was—writing upwards of dozens of songs per month, Ondrasik is more focused today. He knows who he is, as an artist and as a human being. His is a career molded by light and darkness. At one point, he’d been looked over by every publishing house and label out there. At another, he had one of the biggest songs in the world. Those extremes give a person perspective. 

  “I’ve been incredibly blessed,” he says. “I still pinch myself.”

As Five For Fighting , which is a professional hockey term designating a five-minute penalty for fisticuffs on the ice, Ondrasik has also developed a close relationship within the world of sports. He was a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated as well as for his beloved Los Angeles Kings. Five For Fighting was one of the first musical artists to perform on ESPN’s SportsCenter, and has played The Daytona 500, Monday Night Football, The Heritage Classic, the L.A. Kings outdoor hockey game, and more. Recently, John performed a version of 100 Years for CBS sports celebrating “100 Days to the Superbowl” and is routinely featured in Bally Sports broadcasts at the start of L.A. Kings hockey games. 

“Singing from home plate at Dodger stadium,” Ondrasik says, “where, as a five-year-old boy, my dad and I would catch bleacher bombs during batting practice—that was a dream.”

Today, Ondrasik spends his time writing music, touring, working at the family business, supporting various charities, and enjoying life with his wife, two children, and dog Ender. 

Through “ What Kind of World Do You Want ,” Ondrasik’s charity driven website – WhatKindofWorldDoYouWant.com – he has raised funds for Afghan evacuation organizations, refugees and Augie’s Quest to cure ALS. He continues to support Save Our Allies and the Ukrainian people through “Can One Man Save the World”, multiple charities fighting antisemitism globally, and looks forward to returning to Ukraine and Israel in the near future. 

What motivates him musically now? His latest three songs tell the story. He wants to promote dialogue. He’s set to speak his mind, with words, melody, and conviction. 

Ondrasik doesn’t shy away from nuance. He embraces it and seeks it – just as he does the next chorus, the next verse, all the while searching for a bridge. It’s what artists and freethinkers do, after all.

It’s his gift to share.  

His decided obligation, too.

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Five For Fighting tour dates 2024

Five For Fighting is currently touring across 1 country and has 10 upcoming concerts.

Their next tour date is at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit, after that they'll be at Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.

Currently touring across

Upcoming concerts (10) See nearest concert

St. Andrew's Hall

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Lincoln Theatre

Tarrytown Music Hall

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Nashua Center For the Arts

Colonial Theatre

Jane Pickens Theater

The Vogel, Count Basie Center for the Arts

Past concerts

House of Blues - Cleveland

Ardmore Music Hall

Oliver Dewey Mayor Gazebo

View all past concerts

Recent tour reviews

Beautiful show. The string quartet complimented John's music perfectly. Loved all the stories he told through out the show to preface his songs! No videos could be taken which was disappointing, not sure if that was his request or the venue. From our view I couldn't see John when sitting at the piano because the gutiar placement was blocking it. But really great show overall. Very happy!

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An hour and a half of pure listening pleasure. Exceeded my expectations. The Four for Fighting quartet was a joy. The Birchmere venue was excellent too. Five stars all around.

Despite his stage pseudonym alluding to a punk band or something of the like, Vladimir John Ondrasik III makes piano lead rock to successful effect. After he appeared on the circuit in the late 90s, the American musician has gone on to chart moderately well on the Billboard album and singles chart and has accompanied each release with a well attended tour.

There is a charm and an intrigue when it comes to piano musicians as perhaps it is the closest to a classic performance we are going to find in the modern day. Ondrasik takes his time between releases as each body of work is carefully considered and designed to an extent and this level of detail shines tonight as he plays a variety of soundscapes for the crowds to get lost within. Both his playing abilities and his vocal shine brightest on the stripped back '10 Miles From Nowhere' and 'Two Lights' and by the time the finale of 'Nobody' comes the whole crowd are on their feet to celebrate the great musician.

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Get your tour dates seen everywhere.

Five for Fighting tour stops in Ponte Vedra this spring

Five For Fighting has scheduled a show at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik, the face behind Five For Fighting, wrote and performed hits like “Superman,” “100 Years,” "World," "The Riddle,” “Chances,” and “What If.”

Coming in March: Grammy Award-winning Indigo Girls returning to Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

Coming in April: Classic rock legends Styx, Night Ranger returning for St. Augustine Amphitheatre concert

The concert — the third stop on the 2022 tour — is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at the Concert Hall. Tickets for Five For Fighting go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4, in person at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre box office or at ticketmaster.com. 

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Fees can be avoided by purchasing from the box office, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays. The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall box office remains closed at this time.

Five For Fighting's breakthrough came in 2001 with the Grammy-nominated song "Superman" and Ondrasik's performance at The Concert For New York.

Ondrasik has also been involved in supporting troops — with USO tours, supporting veteran-oriented charities, and distributing “CD for the Troops” to servicemen and their families around the world.

Five For Fighting

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Doors open at 7.

Where: Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

Tickets: $45.50 – $65.50. On sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4.

Upcoming area shows

Josh Gilbert, 6 p.m. Feb. 4, Prohibition Kitchen.

Blistur, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4, Trade Winds Lounge.

Chillula, 9 p.m. Feb. 4, Prohibition Kitchen.

Dylan McDonie, 4 p.m. Feb. 5, Bin 39, 4 St. George St.

Sirsy, 8 p.m. Feb. 5, Dog Rose Brewing Company, 77 Bridge St. Free.

Blistur, 9 p.m. Feb. 5, Trade Winds Lounge.

NEW DATE: Shawn Colvin with Daphne Willis, 8 p.m. Feb. 5, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $39.50-$63.50.

Jesse Terry and DLisOK, 8 p.m. Feb. 6, Cafe Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd.

Billy Prine & The Prine Time Band, 8 p.m. Feb. 6, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $33-$53.

Oshima Brothers, 8 p.m. Feb. 9, Cafe Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd. $15.

Yael & Gabriel, 6 p.m. Feb. 10, Borillo's Pizzeria, 88 San Marco Ave.

Tom Papa, 8 p.m. Feb. 10, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $39.50-$62.50.

CANCELED: Taj Mahal at Fort Mose Historic State Park. 

G. Love & The Juice, 8 p.m. Feb. 11, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $36–$105. 

CANCELED: Christian McBride at Fort Mose Historic State Park. 

Don McLean, 8 p.m. Feb. 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $25.71-$131.

The Morrow Family Band, 4 p.m. Feb. 13, Otter's on the Wayer, 173 Shipyard Way.

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet,  9 p.m. Feb. 13, Cafe Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd.

NEW DATE: Tower of Power, 8 p.m. Feb. 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $71-$85.

José Feliciano, 8 p.m. Feb. 16, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $68.50-$88.50.

The Brit Pack, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $34-$44.

Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Count Basie Orchestra, 7 p.m. Feb. 18, Fort Mose Historic State Park. $65-$115.

Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Amethyst Kiah, 7 p.m. Feb. 19, Fort Mose Historic State Park. $65-$115.

John Pizzarelli Trio, 8 p.m. Feb. 20, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $54-$78. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. 

David Bromberg Quartet with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, 8 p.m. Feb. 22, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $41.50-$43.50.

Lucinda Williams and Her Band Buick 6, 8 p.m. Feb. 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $46-$76. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Gregory Porter, 7 p.m. Feb. 24, Fort Mose Historic State Park. $70-$120.

Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Tank and the Bangas, 7 p.m. Feb. 25, Fort Mose Historic State Park. $40.

Bob Mould, 8 p.m. Feb. 25, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $30-$50.

Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, 7 p.m. Feb. 26, Fort Mose Historic State Park. $65-$115.

Jake Owen with Conner Smith and Drew Parker, 7 p.m. March 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39-$69.

Emmylou Harris & The Red Dirt Boys with Dale Watson and His Lone Stars, 8 p.m. March 4, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39.50-$74.50.

Asleep At The Wheel, 8 p.m. March 5, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $40-$50.

The Beach Boys, 8 p.m. March 5, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $49-$109.

Rodney Crowell, 8 p.m. March 6, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $39-$59.

Foreigner, 7:30 p.m. March 9, St. Augustine Amphiteatre. $39.50-$119.

Graham Nash, 8 p.m. March 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $88.50-$98.50. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

CANCELED: Chris Hillman with Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.

The Drifters, The Platters and Cornell Gunter Coasters, 5 p.m. March 11, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, $59.50-$69.50. 

JJ Grey's Blackwater Sol Review featuring JJ Grey and Mofro, The Allman Betts Band, Larkin Poe and Steel Pulse, March 11, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $139-$180.

JJ Grey's Blackwater Sol Review featuring JJ Grey and Mofro, The Allman Betts Band, Larkin Poe and Steel Pulse, March 12, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $139-$180.

Graham Nash, 8 p.m. March 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $88.50-$98.50. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

Eric Johnson, 8 p.m. March 15, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $34.50-$59.50.

Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional, 6 p.m. March 17, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $25-59.50.

Chris Young with Mitchell Tenpenny, 7:30 p.m. March 18, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $44–$84. 

Loudon Wainwright III, 8 p.m. March 18, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $32-$46. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

The English Beat with Cosmic Highway, 7 p.m. March 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $29.50-$49.50.

The Maine, 7 p.m. March 22, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $31-$36.

Charley Crockett with Vincent Neil Emerson, 7:30 p.m. March 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $30-$35.

Widespread Panic, 7 p.m. March 25, 2022, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $57.50-$77.50.

John Lodge of The Moody Blues, 8 p.m. March 25, 2022, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $48-$73.

Keith Harkin, 8 p.m. March 25, Cafe Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd. $40.

Widespread Panic, 7 p.m. March 26, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $57.50-$77.50.

Widespread Panic, 6:30 p.m. March 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $57.50-$77.50.

Indigo Girls, 8 p.m. March 27, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $49.50. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

Iron & Wine, 7 p.m. March 30, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $45-$70.

Sebastian Maniscalco, 7 p.m. March 31, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $50.25-$153.74.

Griffin House, 8 p.m. March 31, Cafe Eleven, 501 A1A Beach Blvd. $25.

Sebastian Maniscalco, 7 p.m. April 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $50.25-$153.74.

The Zombies, 7:30 p.m. April 6, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $59.50-$94.50

Joan Osborne, 8 p.m. April 7, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $40-$50. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

Henry Rollins, 8 p.m. April 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $29.50-$49.50.

The Music of Cream, 8 p.m. April 9, at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $34.50-$54.50.

Drive-By Truckers, 8 p.m. April 12, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $35.

Bon Iver with Dijon, 6 p.m. April 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $49.50-$99.50.

Beartooth with Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prada and ERRA, 6 p.m. April 19, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $37.50-$47.50.

NEW DATE: Steve Hackett, 7 p.m. April 19, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $53-$83. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

Planet Band Camp with Three Days Grace, Black Veil Brides, Ice Nine Kills and Motionless in White, 6 p.m. April 21, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $38-$172.50.

Styx with Night Ranger, 8 p.m. April 22, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $42-$119. 

NEW DATE: Colin Hay of Men at Work, 8 p.m. April 24, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $39.50-$64.50. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

Houndmouth, 8 p.m. April 28, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $30.50.

Billy Strings, 7:30 p.m. April 29, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39.50-$69.50.

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, 8 p.m. April 29, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $49.50-$79.50.

Billy Strings, 7:30 p.m. April 30, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39.50-$69.50.

Billy Strings, 7:30 p.m.  May 1, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39.50-$69.50.

Rex Orange Country, 7 p.m. May 5, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39-$64.

Koe Wetzel, 7:30 p.m. May 6, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $28-$78.

Primus with Battles, 8 p.m. May 7, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $35-$65. 

Madeleine Peyroux, 8 p.m. May 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $49.50-$84.50.

Five for Fighting, 8 p.m. May 11, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $45.50-$65.50.

Yacht Rock Revue, 8 p.m. May 14, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $40–$70.

Dance Gavin Dance, 6 p.m. May 17, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $40.

Leon Bridges with Chiiild, 6:30 p.m. May 19, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $39.50-$79.50.

NEW DATE: Ryan Hamilton, 8 p.m. May 21, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $39.50-$52.50. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

Wallows, 8 p.m. May 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $29-$125. 

Bright Eyes, 7 p.m. May 28, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

Bikini Kill, 8 p.m. May 31, Backyard Stage at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $40.

Good Vibes Summer Tour 2022: Rebelution with Steel Pulse, Denm and DJ Mackle, 5:30 p.m. June 1, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard Stage. $17.93–$45.

Good Vibes Summer Tour 2022: Rebelution with Steel Pulse, Denm and DJ Mackle, 5:30 p.m. June 2, St. Augustine Amphitheatre Backyard Stage. $17.93-$45.

NEW DATE: Barenaked Ladies with Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket, 6 p.m. June 3, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $44-$129.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with Sheryl Crow, 6 p.m. June 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with Sheryl Crow, 6:30 p.m. June 10, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

NEW DATE: Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band with Edgar Winter, 7:30 p.m. June 24, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $54-$154. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

Dispatch & O.A.R. with G. Love, 7 p.m. Sept. 4, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $26-$96.

NEW DATE: Todd Barry, 8 p.m. Oct. 1, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $33.50. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

The Head and the Heart with Shakey Graves, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13, St. Augustine Amphitheatre. $34.50-$64.50. Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours is required. In the absence of the negative test, proof of vaccination may be accepted. The artist asks that all patrons wear a mask.

NEW DATE: Steve Vai, 8 p.m. Oct. 21, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $44.50-$89.50. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

NEW DATE: Steep Canyon Rangers, 7 p.m. Nov. 4, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $54.50-$64.50. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

NEW DATE: Big Band of Brothers, 8 p.m. Jan. 25, 2023, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $62.50-$92.50. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

NEW DATE: Alan Doyle with Chris Trapper, 8 p.m. March 7, 2023, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $32-$40. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

NEW DATE: Eric Johnson, 8 p.m. March 14, 2023, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. $34.50-$59.50. All tickets will be honored at the new date.

Submit upcoming area shows to [email protected].

John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting Performs “Can One Man Save the World?” with Ukrainian Orchestra in Kyiv

Jacob Uitti

Updated: 

John Ondrasik isn’t afraid to speak his mind when he feels the cause needs him.

In recent months, he’s been outspoken about the U.S. military evacuation from Afghanistan , launched a docs-series called Meet The Heroes, and written music expressing those sentiments of protest, as well.

Videos by American Songwriter

The platinum-selling Ondrasik also received a great deal of attention for his song, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” in the wake of 9/11 some 20 years ago. That song became the unofficial anthem of the recovery efforts after the tragic attacks in New York City.

Now, the Grammy-nominated artist is doing even more.

Ondrasik recently performed his song “Can One Man Save the World?” with the Ukrainian Orchestra in Kyiv, Ukraine, to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict and Russian invasion of the war-torn country. And proceeds from the performance will go towards aid for the nation.

According to a press statement about the new track, “The song, inspired by the courage of President Vladimir Zelensky and the people of Ukraine, asks the nation, and the world, to stand up for the core values of freedom and justice.”

Added Ondrasik, “I was honored to perform my new Ukraine tribute song  Can One Man Save the World ? with the Ukrainian Orchestra in the ruins of the Antonov Airport—in front of the Ukrainians’ beloved Mriya, the world’s largest cargo plane that Russia destroyed at the outset of the war. In sharing this musical collaboration on such hallowed ground, I saw firsthand the fortitude and grace of the Ukrainian people, who whether playing a violin or driving a tank, will not be deterred by Putin’s atrocities and aggressions.”

To achieve his goal of filming the music video in a war zone, Ondrasik enlisted the aid of Save Our Allies (SOA), a direct-response rescue and relief organization formed during the fall of Afghanistan to assist with evacuations from those fleeing the Taliban. Since its founding in August 2021, SOA’s impact has continued in Afghanistan while extending to Ukraine, where they have provided on-the-ground support with precision evacuations, including the rescue of injured Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall, and “last mile” medical and logistics support.

“I had been working with Save Our Allies in the wake of the withdrawal of Afghanistan, so I already had great admiration for Nick, Sarah Verardo, and their SOA colleagues. They were, and are, heroes who gave me hope with their determination to keep the American promise by rescuing our Afghan allies abandoned in Afghanistan. But this was something different,” explains Ondrasik. “I asked Nick if he knew any guys crazy enough to travel into a war zone to film the video. As I would hear often in the next few weeks on our journey, ‘We will figure it out.’” 

Wrote Ondrasik on Twitter, sharing the news of the performance, “I was honored to perform my song “Can One Man Save the World?”, with the valiant Ukrainian Orchestra in Kyiv. Proceeds of song/video will go to my incredible partners  @saveourallies to help the Ukrainian people. Pls watch and share. History Starts Now!  http://saveourallies.org “

I was honored to perform my song “Can One Man Save the World?”, with the valiant Ukrainian Orchestra in Kyiv. Proceeds of song/video will go to my incredible partners @saveourallies to help the Ukrainian people. Pls watch and share. History Starts Now! https://t.co/JrvU8wuja6 pic.twitter.com/eMKLKwRTmV — John Ondrasik (@johnondrasik) July 9, 2022

Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capital Concerts

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Southern Stages

Covering the southern music scene, that extra dimension: a conversation with five for fighting’s john ondrasik.

By Brent Thompson

Photo Credit: Jeremy Cowart

Music, family, public speaking, philanthropy and a longstanding family business all comprise the life and work of John Ondrasik , also known by his stage name of Five for Fighting . Since bursting onto the music scene with the Grammy-nominated single “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” Ondrasik has released a steady stream of albums and singles to a devoted fan base. On Sunday, May 8 , Five for Fighting will perform at the Lyric Theatre accompanied by a string quartet. Recently, Ondrasik spoke with us by phone from his Los Angeles home.

Southern Stages : John, thanks for your time. We are looking forward to your return to Birmingham.

John Ondrasik: I appreciate you talking about the show and I’m looking forward to getting down there – it’s been too long.

Southern Stages : Are you supporting the release of a new album on this tour?

Ondrasik: No, there’s nothing planned. I’ve just been putting out songs when they hit me. You never know what could come in the next couple of months. For the first time in years, I’m actually consolidating some songs with the intention of making a record but not putting a due date on it.

Southern Stages : You stay very busy with your music career, public speaking and philanthropic endeavors. How do you manage to juggle all of those?

Ondrasik: [ Laughs ] I wish I could say cloning. To be honest with you, I did very little music through the pandemic. We have a family business that’s been in our family since 1946 – it’s a company called Precision Wire. We have about 300 employees and our claim to fame is that we make the best shopping cart in the world. If you’ve shopped at Costco, you’ve used our cart. I’ve worked there my whole career and my dad – being 83 – quarantined very early and I was thrust into taking the reins at Precision Wire. We got through it, but it was 24/7 for at least 18 months – that really consumed me for a couple of years. I was doing some virtual concerts and virtual keynotes, but that experience changed our perspective and it was one of the reasons I wanted to get down and see you guys and go back to some of the cities that were so supportive of me 20 years ago. You’re probably familiar with (Birmingham-based radio program) Reg’s Coffeehouse and Scott [Register] was such a supporter of mine and Birmingham was one of the key markets that put me over the tipping point. When “Superman” was on the bubble, your market put it over the top and I’ve never forgotten that and I said I can’t go out on this quartet tour without getting down to Birmingham.

Southern Stages : You have over two decades of material in your catalog now. How do you comprise your setlists these days?

Ondrasik: That’s a good question. One reason I started doing these string quartet shows like we’ll be doing for you guys was I was doing these orchestra shows which were amazing. It was me sitting there with a 30-piece orchestra and it allowed me to do certain songs that I wouldn’t do with the rock band – songs that had incredible string arrangements like “Two Lights” and “Nobody.” I wanted to take that format to smaller markets so here comes the string quartet. To answer your question, it kind of depends on the format – what Five for Fighting permutation you’re getting. The quartet shows have more intimate songs because of the nature of the experience where hopefully it’s a pin-drop atmosphere, but you also get that extra dimension on the songs people already know. Every time we do a tour, we try to add a couple of new songs and sometimes it’s the dreaded “new song” [ laughs ]. We don’t play the exact same set every night.

Southern Stages : I always wonder how songs stay fresh to artists after they’ve been performed thousands of times. Does changing up the instrumentation and touring personnel allow you to keep things relevant?

Ondrasik: It really does. One thing that helped me with that is all these different permutations of Five for Fighting – the quartet show and the rock band show. We are putting the rock band out this summer for the first time in a long time. The keynotes are always different because I think about and learn about who I’m speaking to. Solo shows, charity shows and even virtual shows have different dynamics in how you attack them. You’re right – at the end of the day, if you’re fortunate enough to have a song that people want to hear and you’ve played it 10,000 times, there’s a certain professionalism in that. “100 Years” is a little easier because I’m always somewhere in that song – the last time I was in Birmingham I was in the second verse and now I’m in the bridge [ laughs ]. [Regarding] “Superman” I had a conversation with a very successful professional athlete about something similar. He said, “Every game I play – for somebody in that crowd, this may be the only time they see me play live. It’s up to me to do my best every time.” I try to have that approach with “Superman,” knowing that for someone in the audience it may be the only time they hear it and the least I can do is not go through the motions.

Southern Stages : You’re a sports fan so it’s time for the tough question. What’s wrong with the Lakers this season?

Ondrasik: Oh boy! Yeah, it’s rough out here. We’re a little bit spoiled though. It’s tough sledding for the Lakers, but there are still a lot of banners up there.

Southern Stages : Some artists tell me it’s a great time to be in your position given easy access to listeners via Youtube, Spotify, satellite radio and other modern outlets. Others say, for the same reason, that the current climate makes it difficult for artists to be found among the crowd. How do you feel about the current state of the industry?

Ondrasik: With any new technology, there are winners and losers and I think musicians are both. As you said, the ability to have your songs heard has never been easier and millions of people are putting their songs out on the Internet. When I came up, I caught the last wave of record sales right before everything changed. If you were fortunate enough to get a record deal, there used to be a thing called “artist development” [ laughs ] and they would put you on tour. People don’t realize that Bruce Springsteen broke on his third record and it takes time and that kind of artist investment has disappeared from record companies and it’s harder to make a living. Even though a lot of folks can get their music out, it’s harder to make a living and I worry that music for many will become a hobby. The money is coming back a little bit with streaming, so we’re not as bad off as we were five or ten years ago. On the other hand, you’re not beholden to record companies and you’re not beholden to radio. Now, you can have a career without record companies and without having Top 20 hits.

Code-R Productions Presents: Five for Fighting with String Quartet on Sunday, May 8 at the Lyric Theatre. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show can be purchased at www.lyricbham.com.

Watch Five for Fighting's new benefit video 'Can One Man Save the World,' featuring the Ukrainian orchestra

Musician John Ondrasik of the band Five for Fighting is opening up about what it was like making the charity video of their song, "Can One Man Save the World."

The video, which premiered Saturday on "Good Morning America," features the Ukrainian Orchestra accompanying the band, who wrote the song after being inspired by the steadfastness of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy in the face of the Russian invasion. "Can One Man Save the World" was released in March , nearly a month after Russia invaded Ukraine.

"It's not just a tribute song," Ondrasik told "GMA." "It's a plea to the rest of us to support him. We don't know how this is going to end."

To create the video, Ondrasik and a film crew made a grueling journey to a war-torn area of Ukraine. They filmed amid the ruins of the Antonov Airport in front of what's left of "Mriya," the world's largest cargo plane, which the Russians destroyed at the beginning of the war.

"It was very heavy to see the rubble firsthand and think about what just happened there," Ondrasik said. "But it also inspires you to try to tell the best story and help these people."

Ondrasik made the video with the help of Save Our Allies, a rescue and relief organization that was formed in August of 2021 after Afghanistan fell to the Taliban following the U.S. withdrawal. It's since provided support for evacuations from Ukraine. Proceeds from the single and the video will benefit Save Our Allies . Learn more about the charity effort here .

During the filming, a top Ukrainian general and his entourage approached them and told them that President Zelensky had personally approved the use of the airport as a location. The general, who didn't speak English, asked to hear the song, so Ondrasik and the orchestra played it.

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Despite the fact that the soldiers didn't understand the words, Ondrasik says, "Many of the onlookers were in tears. The significance and weight of our location, mission, and a country fighting for its survival hit home... It was the moment, the music, and our common humanity that spoke to all of us."

Ondrasik says he hopes to organize a Live Aid-type concert benefit concert for Ukraine at the end of the summer, to benefit Ukrainian relief and refugees.

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Republicans start attacking Walz by going after his military record

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is homing in on what advisers see as a potential liability for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz : his departure from the Army National Guard two decades ago.

Walz, introduced Tuesday as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, ended his 24-year military career to run for public office in 2005 — several months before the unit he led deployed to Iraq. 

Walz officially retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005. His unit was alerted about a deployment to Iraq in July, and the unit deployed there in October. Walz filed to run for Congress in January 2005 with paperwork that was certified by the Federal Election Commission the next month.

“When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him — a fact that he’s been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with,” Sen. JD Vance , R-Ohio, Trump’s running mate and a Marine veteran who served in Iraq, said Wednesday at a news conference in Michigan. 

“I think it’s shameful to prepare your unit to go to Iraq, to make a promise that you’re going to follow through, and then to drop out right before you actually have to go,” Vance added.

The strategy, which Trump amplified Wednesday by calling Walz a “DISGRACE” on Truth Social, is a throwback to 2004, when Republicans attacked Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s record as a Navy officer in Vietnam. Chris LaCivita — who was a consultant to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth group that helped sink Kerry’s bid — is a senior adviser to Trump’s campaign and has signaled an eagerness to reopen the playbook on Walz.

“And when his men needed him the most … as they headed into the Crucible that is combat … he deserted them … left them,” LaCivita posted Tuesday on X , shortly after Harris selected Walz to join her on the Democratic ticket. “Why? So he could run for Congress.”

In introducing Walz, 60, to a wider audience beyond Minnesota, the Harris campaign has emphasized his military record, as well as his experience as a football coach . Campaign officials frame his decision to leave the National Guard and pursue a career in politics as a path that offered him new and meaningful opportunities to help service members and veterans.

“After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform — and as Vice President he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families,” Harris campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said in a statement.

Walz has faced such attacks before, including in his re-election campaign in 2022, when his GOP opponent questioned his decision to leave the service in 2005. Walz’s campaign responded with a letter signed by 50 veterans praising his record and leadership.

“Governor Walz secured additional funding for new veterans homes,” read the letter, a copy of which the Harris campaign shared Wednesday with NBC News. “In his first term, Minnesota was one of just seven states initially selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to participate in the ‘Governor’s Challenge’ to eliminate veteran deaths by suicide.”

Erick Erickson, a prominent conservative commentator, drew attention Tuesday to a paid letter to the editor that scrutinized Walz’s service and was published by the West Central Tribune newspaper of Willmar, Minnesota, in 2018, days before he won his first term as governor. Erickson also called for a return of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, prompting LaCivita’s initial social media post. Other posts followed.

“He deserted his men and quit before they went to combat,” LaCivita wrote of Walz in response to a complimentary post from Alyssa Farah Griffin, a co-host of the daytime talk show “The View” and a former Trump White House aide who has since denounced Trump.

LaCivita’s previous work with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth stands as one of the most aggressive and potentially consequential political attacks of the modern era. 

Kerry — who was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and, for wounds sustained in battle, three Purple Heart medals — had drawn the ire of many veterans for his advocacy against the war after he returned home. And as he sought the presidency in 2004, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran ads accusing him of lying about his service on 50-foot aluminum crafts that ran dangerous missions in the Mekong Delta waterways of South Vietnam. Some of the veterans featured in the ads said he had won awards under false premises.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam before becoming friends with Kerry in the Senate, criticized the ads and noted that the veterans making claims against Kerry did not serve on his boat . Some of those who did supported Kerry’s accounts . The allegations, which Kerry did not immediately counter, muddied the picture he presented of himself as a war hero — which appeared to be the group’s aim from a political perspective. Swift Boat Veterans for Truth may not have proved its case, but it sowed doubt about a perceived strength of Kerry’s — his war service — and about his credibility.

FactCheck.org concluded after exhaustive research that “at this point, 35 years later and half a world away, we see no way to resolve which of these versions of reality is closer to the truth.” Kerry lost to President George W. Bush.

Walz joined the National Guard in 1981, just after his 17th birthday. After he transferred from the Nebraska National Guard in 1996, he served in the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery, said Army Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, the Minnesota Guard’s public affairs officer. Walz, Augé added, “culminated his career serving as the command sergeant major for the battalion” and “retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.”

During Walz’s nearly quarter-century of service, he was part of flood fights, responded to tornadoes and spent months on active duty in Italy, according to the Harris campaign. Walz “was deployed to Italy in 2003 to protect against potential threats in Europe while active military forces were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan,” the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported in 2022 , attributing the information to Walz in an article about the scrutiny of his military service.

Walz and Vance are the first veterans on a national ticket for either major party since McCain was the GOP presidential nominee in 2008. Vance, 40, briefly chronicled his experiences in Iraq in his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” recalling his work as a public affairs Marine.

“Sometimes I’d escort civilian press, but generally I’d take photos or write short stories about individual marines or their work,” he wrote. “Early in my deployment, I attached to a civil affairs unit to do community outreach. Civil affairs missions were typically considered more dangerous, as a small number of marines would venture into unprotected Iraqi territory to meet with locals.”

In a post Tuesday on X that highlighted Walz’s hunting and military background, the Harris campaign shared undated video that featured him talking about gun control.

“We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at,” Walz says in the brief clip.

Vance alluded to the video at campaign stops Wednesday, accusing Walz of misrepresenting his military service and asserting that he never spent time in a combat zone. 

“Well, I wonder, Tim Walz, when were you ever in war? What was this weapon that you carried into war, given that you abandoned your unit right before they went to Iraq?” Vance asked at an event near Detroit. “What bothers me about Tim Walz is this stolen valor garbage. Do not pretend to be something that you’re not. ... I’d be ashamed if I was him and I lied about my military service like he did.”

Later, arriving for an event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Vance told reporters that he had “served in a combat zone” and “never said that I saw a firefight myself, but I’ve always told the truth about my Marine Corps service.” 

Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also alluded to the video in a statement, telegraphing the campaign’s intentions to keep pressing on Walz’s military record.

“Tim Walz is a fraud who wants to ban firearms like the ones he claimed to carry in war — except Tim Walz never deployed to a combat zone and lied about his record of service in the National Guard,” Leavitt said. “If Walz won’t tell voters the truth, we will: just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American’s nightmare.”

Asked about the video, a Harris campaign spokesperson did not deny that Walz had embellished when he spoke of carrying weapons in war.

“In his 24 years of service, the Governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times,” the spokesperson said. “Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country — in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way.”

Henry J. Gomez is a senior national political reporter for NBC News

Adam Edelman is a politics reporter for NBC News.

Jonathan Allen is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News.

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On Stage Extra: John Ondrasik comes to Ardmore

John Ondrasik

There are two attractive midweek shows that will appeal to two very different generations – Five for Fighting tonight in Ardmore and Zoe Ko on August 7 in Philadelphia.

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John Terry to Spartak Moscow: How much Chelsea hero will be paid - and how long he'll stay

Free-agent former England captain has already passed a medical ahead of move to city where he missed THAT penalty

• 22:30, 8 SEP 2018

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John Terry is closing in on a shock move to Russia to play for Spartak Moscow.

Former Chelsea and England captain Terry passed a medical on Saturday and will pick up £3million for his one-year deal.

The 37-year-old is out of contract after leaving Aston Villa in the summer when they failed to win promotion back to the Premier League, losing 1-0 to Fulham in the Championship play-off final.

Spartak are in the same Europa League group as Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard’s Rangers, which means Terry could return to Britain for the game at Ibrox on October 25. And with Chelsea in the competition, a potential game against his beloved Blues could be on if they both advance to the knockout phase.

The centre-half had four concrete offers to extend his playing career, including one in the Premier League, but has opted to join Spartak for the next 12 months at least.

He could extend his stay, with the deal understood to include an option for a further year.

Terry underwent a medical in Rome on Saturday morning after jetting to Italy the night before.

His previous experiences of Moscow have not always been good — it was in the city’s Luzhniki Stadium in 2008 that he famously slipped and missed a penalty in a Champions League final shootout loss to Manchester United.

Terry was due to play in a charity match organised by James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov on Saturday but pulled out when he reached an agreement in principle with Spartak.

The Russian Premier League side will become only the third club of Terry’s career following his trophy-laden days at Chelsea and a year at Villa, with whom he narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League in the summer.

* STEVE BRUCE is ready to offer Terry's former Chelsea team-mate Robert Huth a chance to rekindle his career. The Aston Villa boss will turn to the clubless 34-year-old, a title winner with Leicester in 2016, in the next 48 hours after seeing a move to re-sign Terry come to nothing.

Is this a good move for John Terry?

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