Danger Mouse Won’t Join Gnarls Barkley Tour After Initial Announcement Billed Duo’s Live Return

Gnarls Barkley’s first tour in 18 years will proceed without Danger Mouse, with updated promotional material now billing the North American run as “CeeLo Green performing Gnarls Barkley” after the shows were initially announced without disclosing that one half of the two-person group would not participate.

Live Nation’s Sept. 18 announcement for the “To Whom It Still Concerns Tour” has since been updated with a notice stating, “Please note: Danger Mouse will not be appearing on the upcoming To Whom It Still Concerns tour.” Immediately below that clarification, the release still describes the “multi-GRAMMY-winning duo Gnarls Barkley” as announcing “their first tour in 18 years.”

The original announcement identified Gnarls Barkley as the duo of CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse, whose real name is Brian Burton. It did not, however, explicitly state that Danger Mouse would perform at the newly announced shows. The distinction is important: the available record does not establish that Danger Mouse was booked for the tour and subsequently dropped out.

His absence also was not disclosed in the initial announcement.

The Original tour poster depicted both Green and Danger Mouse. Updated artwork now describes the shows as “CeeLo Green performing Gnarls Barkley,” language that makes the makeup of the live act considerably clearer.

Green has also now addressed the confusion himself, writing in a social media post that “Danger Mouse will not be performing” and that the clarification was intended to avoid “misunderstandings / disappointments.” He described Danger Mouse as his producer and business partner and said he would “be there in spirit.”

The Gnarls Barkley camp separately told Pollstar that Danger Mouse was never scheduled to participate.

“Gnarls Barkley’s 2026 To Whom It Still Concerns Tour has always been planned as a CeeLo Green-led live run,” the statement said. “Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) was not scheduled to participate in the tour dates. CeeLo Green will perform the duo’s music for fans across North America.”

That explanation leaves unanswered why the distinction was not made when the tour was initially announced.

The original Live Nation release called the dates Gnarls Barkley’s first tour in 18 years and described Gnarls Barkley throughout as a duo. TicketNews consequently reported Sept. 18 that “CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse” were heading back on the road and described the dates as the reunited duo’s first tour since 2008. Other music outlets reached the same conclusion from the rollout.

The clarification also came after ticket sales had begun. Live Nation scheduled Citi and Spotify Reserved presales to start Monday, Sept. 21, followed by additional presale activity ahead of Thursday’s general onsale.

That means fans had already been given an opportunity to purchase tickets while the public announcement still characterized the run as Gnarls Barkley’s return to touring and the absence of Danger Mouse had not yet been publicly clarified.

TicketNews asked Live Nation on Thursday whether Danger Mouse had ever been scheduled or expected to perform; why the original announcement did not disclose his absence if the tour was always planned around Green; when the disclaimer was added; whether tickets had been sold before buyers were informed; and whether those purchasers would be eligible for refunds.

Live Nation had not responded to those questions as of Friday morning.

Refund eligibility for buyers who purchased before the clarification remains unclear. TicketNews has not found an announcement establishing a tour-wide refund policy for those customers.

Meanwhile, the tour continues to be sold through Ticketmaster under the event name “Gnarls Barkley: To Whom It Still Concerns Tour.” Ticketmaster also now lists a second Irving Plaza performance in New York on Nov. 25, one night after the previously announced Nov. 24 show. Both are listed with Gnarls Barkley as the performer.

There is also lingering uncertainty around the tour’s December U.K. dates. NME reported Friday that it remained unclear whether Danger Mouse’s absence applies to those shows, which continued to be advertised simply as Gnarls Barkley as U.K. general sales opened Sept. 25. Ticketmaster’s Glasgow listing likewise currently identifies the performer simply as Gnarls Barkley.

The North American run begins Nov. 5 at The Masonic in San Francisco and is scheduled to continue through Nov. 28 at House of Blues Chicago. It follows the release earlier this year of Atlanta, Green and Danger Mouse’s third Gnarls Barkley album and their first together in 18 years.

Danger Mouse participated in that recording, but according to the subsequent clarification from the Gnarls Barkley camp, the producer was never intended to take part in the live tour promoting it.