September 2012!
Tim 'Ripper' Owens - European Tour:
Inventories done!
Gear checks done!
Passport, guitars, strings, iPod, phone - and even clothes . . YES yes yes!! Check check check!!
This tour will take us to venues in Belgium, Holland, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal & France - and there will be LOUDNESS!
The set is killer, and is stuffed full of immense tunes and plenty of surprises, but I can't say ANYTHING about that stuff.
All in good time.
It will be very cool to be on the road with Tim 'Ripper' Owens, because he is a legendary man.
Seriously accomplished, very well respected, and very highly regarded in the world of music - but you already know that for sure, because you've been listening to Tim in Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Beyond Fear, Yngwie Malmsteen, Charred Walls Of The Damned, Dio Disciples, Hail and many others over the years.
It will be great to see the boys again; Claudio, Nick, Steve and Franky.
We have played together plenty of times in a previous incarnation . . . and one way or the other - there will be HEAVINESS!
Over the last couple of years on various outings - it has been a real pleasure to meet many excellent dudes and dude-esses, and visit some great venues in various countries throughout Europe.
It will be amazing to re-visit some of those venues, and to re-rock and roll with some of the friends we've met there.
Facebook & Twitter have made it possible to stay in touch with new friends really easily, which is a great thing.
A strange irony that makes me extremely happy, is that our 2012 European tour compadres are the mighty SANDSTONE, from the Emerald Isle.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away - in a totally different band (2006 across the UK) . . . we toured with Sandstone for two weeks, and they are very very cool indeed.
I haven't seen the boys for 6 years, but I'm really looking forward to raising some glasses with them, and catching up.
You couldn't wish to meet cooler people.
Great lads, and they play razor sharp, slick, wicked, infectious music.
Great lads, and they play razor sharp, slick, wicked, infectious music.
When Sandstone hit the stage - there is no turning back - and there WILL be ROCK AND ROLL.
In the Netherlands, we play with the mighty HELLSTAR, which promises to be a storming show!
In the Netherlands, we play with the mighty HELLSTAR, which promises to be a storming show!
In Germany, we're meeting up to play a one-off show with our old tour pals - the teutonic knights of metal known as 'MESSENGER' and in Poland, we're playing wicked night with metal giants, SOULFLY - so get ready for an apocalypse.
God damn!
I'm going to try to write a new blog on each show of the tour, and post pictures of the venue & people every night - so please come and say hello, and hang out during the shows!
I'm going to try to write a new blog on each show of the tour, and post pictures of the venue & people every night - so please come and say hello, and hang out during the shows!
Just have to say a big thanks to Tim from Bare Knuckle Pickups for some fantastic hardware and also for very kindly sending me some awesome promo stuff for the tour. Worn with pride, squire!
Some more big thankyous:
To Mark & Carol Bailey at Bailey Guitars. They are the best.
Jim at Rocktron for his invaluable technical help.
Steve Austin (presumably not the Six Million Dollar Man) at The FlightCase Warehouse. The best around.
Nolly Cadman for the additional case. Thanks a million Nolly! See you soon.
SIT Strings for their string endorsement on this tour. Super cool.
Steve, Nick, Claudio & Tim Owens too for being all-round good guys, - and to Zippy & Arnie for everything in the world.
A really sincere THANK-YOU to Franky, Stefanie, Tessa & Amy for treating me so well, and having me to stay in their home for the week. Thanks a million for all of your effort and kindness, guys.
Nice one Franky. Well done, mate. You've done a killer job.
See you sometime in the next few weeks - somewhere on tour!
