Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, begins his first full tour in 33 years in Dublin on Sunday. (Roland Magunia/AFP/Getty Images)

Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam, known as Cat Stevens in the 1970s, takes the stage in Dublin on Sunday, the first performance of his first full tour since 1976.

Born Steven Demetre Georgiou in London, the folk legend disappeared from the music scene after he converted to Islam in 1977 at the height of his popularity.

He began making sporadic stage appearances in recent years. In 2006, he recorded a new album, An Other Cup, following it with Roadsinger this year.

Now 61, Islam is going back on the road with his Guess I'll Take My Time tour.

He told the Irish Times that he hopes his old fans will turn out for these concerts.

"A lot of people might have thought — because of the way that my image per se had changed throughout the media — that my actual persona would change as well. But, in fact, you never really stop being yourself, you know," he said.

Islam opens in Dublin's O2 Arena on Nov. 15. Then he's at Birmingham's NIA the following Monday, Nov. 23, Liverpool's Echo Arena on Dec. 5 and London's Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 8.

No dates have been confirmed for appearances in Canada, the U.S. or other countries.

The concerts will feature Islam playing acoustic guitar accompanied by a band in the first half, followed by a preview of his new musical, Moonshadow, based loosely on his early life. He'll include many of his old Cat Stevens hits, such as Wild World and Morning Has Broken.