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Why Has Yusuf Dropped Islam From His Stage Name?
This was my decision. It makes the issue of identification personal, not political or religious. I felt it strange when journalists referred to me as, ‘Islam’. Reading things like, “Islam says … “ or something. That worried me. It’s a huge responsibility that I am not answerable for, so I felt nervous about that. I like to be known on first name terms!
By the way, if anyone called me ‘Cat’ in the old days, it meant they weren’t in my real circle of friends. In those days I chose my surname to be Stevens, which was in fact closer to my first name, Steven. Get it?
