Brief update for Thursday 17th February, 2011

Stryper announce North American Tour Dates in support of new album, 'The Covering.'

Lots of people are getting pretty excited by what they are hearing on Stryper's new album, their tribute to their influences in 'The Covering' released here in the US this past Tuesday.

The band has just announced a number of tour dates in support of the album and posted this statement at their site:

FEBRUARY 16, 2011 - Confirmed tour dates have been added to the tour page!

There are more dates to come and they will be added as they are confirmed.

The TOUR DATES are as follows:

DATE CITY VENUEMarch 2011

March 2, 2011 Seattle, WA - El Corazón
March 3, 2011 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre

March 5, 2011 Santa Clara, CA - Avalon Nightclub

March 8, 2011 San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
March 9, 2011 Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia LA Live 

March 11, 2011 Las Vegas, NV - Santa Fe Station Casino

March 13, 2011 Lubbock, TX - Jake's Sports Cafe

March 14, 2011 Houston, TX - Scout Bar

March 15, 2011 San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live

March 16, 2011 Dallas, TX - Trees

March 18, 2011 Nashville, TN - Wildhorse Saloon
March 19, 2011 Detroit, MI - Harpos Concert Theatre
March 20, 2011 Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago
March 22, 2011 Baltimore, MD - Bourbon Street Ballroom
March 23, 2011 Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel
March 24, 2011 New York, NY - B.B. Kings
March 26, 2011 Foxborough, MA - Showcase Live

July 2011July 31, 2011 Zion, IL - Ignite FestivalThe band has also lined up a few international dates too.

Those dates are as follows:

INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES

DATE CITY VENUE

May 2011

May 2011 Mexico TBA

June 2011

June 10, 2011 Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
June 24, 2011 Loreley, Germany - Rock The Nation Festival
June 25, 2011 Ferropolis, Germany - Rock The Nation Festival

Official band webiste: http://www.stryper.com/

Paul Rodgers UK touring band will include Jason Bonham

Sometime Bad Company vocalist and former Free frontman, Paul Rodgers will be playing a bunch of UK live dates in April 2011 and he is pulling in Jason Bonham (Black Country Communion, Led Zeppelin, UFO, Foreigner) to help on on the live dates.

Bonham's most recent activities include a tribute Led Zeppelin showcase tour in honour of his late Father, John (Bonham), across North America late last year and more recently, he's been working on his most recent project Black Country Communion, that also features Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Hughes / Thrall, Trapeze).

The live dates will be at:

APRIL 2011

FRIDAY 15 BLACKPOOL OPERA HOUSE

SATURDAY 16 SHEFFIELD CITY HALL

MONDAY 18 NEWCASTLE CITY HALL: DUE TO DEMAND MOVED TO NEWCASTLE ARENA

TUESDAY 19 GLASGOW CLYDE

THURSDAY 21 02 APOLLO MANCHESTER

FRIDAY 22 NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CENTRE

SUNDAY 24 BOURNEMOUTH BIC

MONDAY 25 SOUTHEND CLIFF PAVILIONS

WEDNESDAY 27 LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL

THURSDAY 28 BIRMINGHAM NIA

Official website:  http://www.paulrodgers.com/

More on the Thunder 'reunion ...' It's not!

This update was posted earlier this week on Tuesday at the Thunder website, by their 'webmaster!'

Thunder News - Band Reunites for One Off UK Festival Appearance

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Yes people, it’s true.

I’ve been informed today that the ex members of Thunder have agreed to reunite after almost 2 years apart, for a one off show at High Voltage Festival, at Victoria Park London on Sunday July 24th.

I’ve been asked to point out that this does not mean they’re getting back together, and there are no plans to record or release any new material. In fact Luke (Morley) and Chris (Childs) have asked me to stress that whilst they’re both chuffed to be doing a Thunder show, their commitment to The Union and the new album release (later this year) is undiminished, and the writing is going really well.

All ex-Thunder band members’ other activities will remain unchanged, and Harry (James) is about to go on tour with Magnum, so this really is a one off.

Danny (Bowes) says: “I can’t lie, I’ve missed singing and being in the band more than I thought I would over the past couple of years, so when High Voltage called last week, I was keen to explore it, as it was great last year. We’re still releasing the new “Rough & Ready” live album, but there’s no plan to do any other recording going forwards. It will be great to play again, and we’re really excited”.

Luke says: “I thoroughly enjoyed playing at the inaugural High Voltage last year with The Union so I'm really looking forward to getting together with the rest of the boys for a one-off reunion (no pun intended). Fortunately it fitted in nicely with everything else we're doing so in the end it was difficult to say no. I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun”.

Ben (Matthews) says: “We’re all busy with other things, so it took a bit of discussion to ensure there were no clashes, but we got it sorted. I only live down the road, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a sunny Sunday evening, so happy days!”

This is great news, I will of course be there, as I hope will you, but there is no more information, so please don’t bombard me for info on a new studio album, tour etc.

Full festival and line up details can be found at http://www.highvoltagefestival.com/

The Thin, Excited & Can’t Wait Until July One

http://www.thunderonline.com/

Whitesnake free new song download and maybe win a signed guitar!

Yes, I guess David Coverdale is in a generous mood!

This just came through the fan mail late yesterday, to my inbox.

FREE WHITESNAKE MP3 DOWNLOAD - FREE GUITAR

Download the free "Love Will Set You Free" MP3 or pre-order their new album, FOREVERMORE and be automatically entered for a chance to win David Coverdale's own Mini Martin guitar used in the actual recording of FOREVERMORE!

This is an exclusive only at http://www.whitesnake.com/ and will only last a couple of days.

So be there!

There you have it, what are you waiting for folks, go get your free Whitesnake freebie!