Neil Diamond readies world tour

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Neil Diamond will kick off the U.S. leg of his world tour Sept. 28 in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets for most shows on the trek, which comes in support of his forthcoming Columbia album, "Three Chord Opera," will be available to fans via a special Internet pre-sale opportunity through Ticketmaster. Beginning Tuesday, fans were able to register for the pre-sale via a specially created Web site (www.NeilDiamond.Ticketmaster.com), where they receive a password allowing them to purchase up to eight tickets the day before they go on sale to the general public. Only announced shows in Chicago, Rockford, Ill., West Valley, Utah and Oklahoma City are not part of the promotion. In addition to the tour, Diamond will perform for free July 27 in New York's Rockefeller Plaza as part of NBC's "Today" show's Friday concert series.