Bob Seger opens tour in Michigan

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band opened their first concert tour in more than a decade on Wednesday in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Hitting the stage for the first time since June 1996, the 61-year-old rocker played a 25-song, two-hour and 10-minute marathon for nearly 13,000 highly partisan home state fans who packed Van Andel Arena. The show included seven songs from "Face the Promise," Seger's first new album in 11 years, as well as favorites such as "Roll Me Away," "Old Time Rock & Roll," "Turn the Page," "Night Movies," "Against the Wind" and "Hollywood Nights."

Sweating through several head bands, Seger made numerous references to his age -- changing the lyric of "Rock and Roll Never Forgets" to "sweet 16 turnin' 61" at one point. But he gave also gave a heartfelt "It's great to be back," a sentiment the audience clearly shared.

Seger's tour continues Friday in Saginaw, Mich., and is expected to stretch into the first three months of 2007.