Author Archives: RockStarPR

August 30, 2016

ROCK FRONT MAN GEOFF TATE OF OPERATION: MINDCRIME AND FORMERLY OF QUEENSRYCHE
TO BE JOINED ON TOUR BY FORMER JUDAS PRIEST SINGER TIM “RIPPER” OWENS AND FORMER
IRON MAIDEN SINGER BLAZE BAYLEY AS THE THREE VOCALISTS COME TOGETHER AS “TRINITY”
FOR SELECT TOUR PERFORMANCES BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER

Come November, heavy metal fans in at least eight east coast cities will be in for a night full of hell-raising fun as three of the genre’s finest vocalists — Geoff Tate, Tim “Ripper” Owens and Blaze Bayley — will be performing the hits from their respective bands on stage together for what is hoped to be just the beginning of several dates over the next few months.

Geoff Tate, who’s Operation: Mindcrime will be releasing their second CD of a trilogy in September titled, Resurrection, states that the collaboration between the three first came about while recently in the studio. “We were recording a song together that will appear on the new Operation: Mindcrime album called ‘Taking on the World’ and immediately realized just how much fun it would be if we went out and did a couple of dates together. We want to give fans a great selection of hits and rarities along with songs we just enjoy performing… and the Trinity tour was born!”

The three vocalists will be backed by the same group of excellent musicians throughout the evening in a show that promises to be loaded with memorable metal for the music masses to enjoy.

Fans can expect to hear such songs as “Empire,” “I Don’t Believe in Love,” “Eyes of a Stranger,” “Living After Midnight,” “Breaking the Law,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” “Burn in Hell,” “Man on the Edge,” “The Number of the Beast” and “Run to the Hills” among others.

During his illustrious career, Geoff Tate has sold more than 25 million records at the helm of Queensryche, the band he fronted for 30 years from their inception through 2012, earning three Grammy nominations, five MTV Music Video Award nominations, and one MTV Music Video Award along the way. The landmark concept album Operation: Mindcrime thrust Tate’s unique social consciousness, style and expertly crafted lyrics into the national spotlight in 1988, and was followed by Empire in 1990, the album that delivered Queensryche to arena-headlining status and sold more than three million albums on the back of hit singles and radio staples “Silent Lucidity” and “Jet City Woman.” By the time the band released Promised Land in 1994, Geoff Tate was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest frontmen in rock and metal, and a driving force behind one of the most innovative bands in mainstream music. In September of 2015, his new band, Operation: Mindcrime released its debut effort titled, The Key, which examined what one might do if they discovered “the key” to changing the way we view the world, the way we look at time, the way we travel and could essentially change the human condition… for better or for release. The band successfully toured for months in support of the project and looks forward to their forthcoming release, Resurrection (via Frontiers Music Srl), this September.

Tim “Ripper” Owens first gained worldwide attention and acclaim when he joined Judas Priest as their lead singer in 1996. During his stint with Judas Priest, he recorded two studio albums and two live albums. The song “Bullet Train” — which featured his incredible vocals — was nominated for a Grammy award in 1999 in the category of Best Metal Performance. He subsequently went on to join Iced Earth and currently performs with such bands as Beyond Fear, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force and Charred Walls of the Damned.

Blaze Bayley joined Iron Maiden in 1993 after the departure of Bruce Dickinson and remained the band’s singer until Dickinson’s return in 1999. Bayley, who had started his career in the mid-80’s as the vocalist of Wolfsbane, recorded two albums with Iron Maiden before starting his own band, Blaze. In May of 2000, the band would release their debut album titled, Silicon Messiah, and would go on to put out two other albums. In more recent years, he’s concentrated on solo projects.

Geoff Tate, Tim “Ripper” Owens and Blaze Bayley… not one, not two, but all three!

Three of the most well-respected metal singers from three of the most well-respected metal bands, together on stage in November!

Tickets for all eight confirmed shows (see below) are now on sale.

If you’d like to interview Geoff Tate regarding the forthcoming performances, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at RockStarPR@aol.com.

Trinity Tour 2016 – Confirmed Tour Dates*

November

Friday, November 18 – The Montage Music Hall in Rochester, New York
Saturday, November 19 – Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh, New York
Sunday, November 20 – Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, November 22 – The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, New York
Wednesday, November 23 – The Chance in Poughkeepsie, New York
Friday, November 25 – Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, New Hampshire
Saturday, November 26 – Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, Maryland
Sunday, November 27 – BB Kings in New York, New York

*Additional dates expected be added.

Geoff Tate Social Media Outlets

www.operationmindcrime.com

www.facebook.com/geofftateofficial

www.twitter.com/geofftate

Tim “Ripper” Owens Official Website – www.timripperowens.com

Blaze Bayley Official Website – www.blazebayley.net

May 26, 2016

LEGENDS OF ROCK TOUR — STARRING JEFFERSON STARSHIP,

MARK FARNER, FORMERLY OF GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, RICK DERRINGER

AND MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS — TO FEATURE CLASSIC HITS

FROM THE SIXTIES, SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES BEGINNING IN LATE SUMMER

Beginning in mid-August, the Legends of Rock tour will be hitting the road for its inaugural tour that will feature Jefferson Starship, Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad, Rick Derringer and Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels.

Four great artists performing their memorable hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s all on the same stage for a classic rock show that will definitely be a crowd-pleaser.

Jefferson Starship rose from the ashes of another legendary San Francisco band, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Jefferson Airplane. Founder Paul Kantner, who passed away in January of this year at the age of 74, knew that combining powerful creative forces, personalities and talents could create something far greater than the sum of its parts. Between 1974 and 1984, Jefferson Starship released eight gold and platinum selling albums, twenty hit singles, sold out concerts worldwide and lived out legendary rock and roll escapades. Today’s Jefferson Starship — featuring original member David Freiberg (also a founder of San Francisco luminaries Quicksilver Messenger Service), longtime members Donny Baldwin (drums) and Chris Smith (keyboards and synth bass), Jude Gold on lead guitar and GRAMMY nominee Cathy Richardson anchoring the female lead vocal spot made famous by the inimitable Grace Slick — remains dedicated to breathing new life into the living catalog of the Jeffersonian legacy, going to the edge, pushing the sonic boundaries and staying true to the original spirit of the music. The band keeps a hectic touring schedule bolstered by several recent television appearances. The music that defined a generation and spanned decades is alive and well and more relevant than ever in pop culture songs such as Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” “Somebody to Love,” “Volunteers” and “Wooden Ships” along with Jefferson Starship’s “Miracles,” “Count on Me,” “Jane,” “Runaway,” “With Your Love,” “Fast Buck Freddie” and “Find Your Way Back” continue to reverberate throughout the collective consciousness today. Fans attending this year’s Legends of Rock concert can expect to hear the majority of these great songs!

Shortly after co-founding the band in 1969, Grand Funk Railroad lead singer and guitarist Mark Farner took his American band to the heights of success. They would quickly release their debut album, On Time, in August of that year and four months later, follow it up with their sophomore effort titled, Grand Funk. In 1970, Closer to Home featuring Mark’s song, “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” would be released and the band would go on to sell more albums that year than any other American band. As the lead singer, guitarist and principle songwriter, Mark and the band experienced incredible heights of success in the early 70’s, selling out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles. From 1969 to 1974, Grand Funk Railroad would release nine consecutive studio albums that would “go” gold or better. Five of those nine would achieve platinum status selling at least a million units each… With hit songs such as “We’re An American Band,” “Walk Like A Man,” “The Loco-Motion,” “Shinin’ On,” “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “Bad Time” among others, the band fortified itself in rock history. Since his days with Grand Funk, Mark has continued to perform with his solo band throughout the world.

When guitar slinger Rick Derringer breaks into his legendary rock anthem, “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” you’ll likely see many an air guitar in the audience. Now more than four decades after its release, the hugely popular hit continues to be a staple on classic rock radio and has been featured in several movies over the years including the Richard Linklater cult classic, Dazed and Confused, and other flicks including The Spirit of ’76, Rush, Stag and What A Girl Wants. It’s a little known fact that before his success as a solo artist, Rick had a band at the age of 17 called The McCoys that had a #1 hit in 1965 called “Hang on Sloopy.” Yep, that’s Rick! The song would eventually be knocked out of the top spot by the Beatles’ “Yesterday.” In 1966, Rick and the band would find themselves opening up for the Rolling Stones on their entire American tour. Although “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” was written and recorded a few years earlier with friend and legendary guitarist Johnny Winter, it would be Rick’s solo version in 1973 that would propel him into the stratosphere of rock stardom. In 1977, Rick appeared on Led Zeppelin’s last North American tour. In the years to follow, Rick would perform with such artists as Alice Cooper (“Under My Wheels”), Steely Dan (“Show Biz Kids” and “Chained Lightning”), Richie Havens, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter and Weird Al Yankovic among others. Today, he continues to perform on a variety of tours, including Legends of Rock.

The hits began for Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels at the tail end of ’65, with the release of their first hit single, “Jenny Take a Ride!”. In 1966, they recorded and began to perform a medley featuring Little Richard’s “Jenny Jenny” and Chuck Willis’ classic R&B song, “C.C. Rider.” The song would quickly enter the Top Ten charts, setting the stage for what was to come that year. Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels would follow up their initial hit with two more in ’66 including a rendition of the Righteous Brothers’ “Little Latin Lupe Lu” and the song that would, ultimately, be their biggest hit, “Devil With A Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly.” A year later, in typical Detroit fashion, Mitch and the band kept their pedal to the metal and delivered another Top Ten song called “Sock It To Me-Baby!” At the end of 1979, Bruce Springsteen would pay tribute to the band by performing the “Detroit Medley,” a selection of the band’s greatest hits including “Devil With A Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Jenny Take A Ride!” and “C.C. Rider” for the triple live No Nukes album. In 1983, Mitch released an album titled, Never Kick A Sleeping Dog, produced by John Cougar Mellencamp that thrust him back into the spotlight with the Prince-penned song, “When You Were Mine.” Mitch has recorded over two dozen albums in his illustrious career and continues to tour all over the world. Known for his incredible live show, Mitch is coming at you with all his hits in a night to remember.

All tour dates to be announced soon!

For artist interviews and additional press materials, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at RockStarPR@aol.com.

“We’re elated to be continuing to carry the fire on the Legends of Rock tour this summer! We love playing together so much that we just couldn’t stop. I had begun playing with Paul Kantner in the early 1960’s and he brought us ALL together in THIS band. So Cathy, Donny, Chris, Jude and I will rock ’til we drop!! See you there.”

–David Freiberg, Jefferson Starship–

“I love doing the ‘Legends’ tour just to get out and meet all my Rockin’ friends and fans. I’ve been playing concerts for a long time and there’s always something with stories that unleash the floodgates of my past. Come out, say hi, and tell me your stories. Respectfully yours.”

–Rick Derringer–

“I have always taken a great deal of pride in my abilities as an Artist to present a top notch performance that the fans have come to love; and I am thrilled to be going out on tour this summer with three other Artists that share similar feelings. Being invited to participate in the Legends of Rock tour, perform with the other Artists and having the opportunity to meet so many friends and fans while out on the road; will be the highlight of my summer.”

–Mitch Ryder–

Artist Websites

www.jeffersonstarship.com

www.markfarner.com

www.rickderringer.com

www.mitchryder.net

May 15, 2016

Thank you.

To request the full press release, dated February 2, 2016, please contact us at rockstarpr@aol.com.

Thank you.

January 20, 2016

GEOFF TATE’S OPERATION: MINDCRIME TO EMBARK
ON EXTENSIVE U.S. TOUR BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY

UPCOMING CONCERT PERFORMANCES TO FEATURE MAJOR HITS AND
FAN FAVORITES SPANNING GEOFF TATE’S ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER AS THE
ORIGINAL FRONT MAN OF QUEENSRYCHE, ALONG WITH NEW SONGS
FROM OPERATION: MINDCRIME’S RECENTLY RELEASED DEBUT ALBUM, “THE KEY”

On February 3, Geoff Tate and his new band, Operation: Mindcrime, will be hitting the road for over thirty dates on what will mark the band’s first major U.S tour of the year (see full tour itinerary below). This comes hot on the heels of their extensive European tour in November and December that took them to such countries as Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The trek was the band’s first in support of its debut album, The Key, which came out on Frontiers Music Srl in September 2015.

For the forthcoming U.S. tour, Geoff Tate will be joined by several of the stellar musicians and bandmates who performed on Operation: Mindcrime’s The Key, including guitarists Kelly Gray (Queensryche) and Scott Moughton (Geoff Tate), drummers Simon Wright (AC/DC) and Scott Mercado (Candlebox) and keyboardist Randy Gane (Myth).

Perhaps one of Geoff Tate’s most ambitious recordings to date, The Key examines what one might do if they discovered “the key” to changing the way we view the world, the way we look at time, the way we travel and could essentially change the human condition… for better or for worse.

The Key is the debut album under Tate’s new Operation: Mindcrime banner, a creative platform that continues in the spirit of the historic album of the same name, spawning concepts as grand as the music, and intertwining the intensity of the former Queensryche vocalist’s iconic past with the provocative, progressive mindset that has made him one of music’s most resolute forces and frontmen.

What can fans expect on this tour? The unexpected.

According to Tate, “I plan to play songs from Empire, Operation: Mindcrime 1 and 2, Rage for Order and my new album, The Key, along with favorites from all the other albums I recorded under the name Queensryche,” adding, “My band’s name may have changed but the songs remain the same.”

Tate has sold more than 25 million records at the helm of Queensryche, the band he fronted for 30 years from their inception through 2012, earning three Grammy nominations, five MTV Music Video Award nominations, and one MTV Music Video Award along the way.

The landmark concept album Operation: Mindcrime thrust Tate’s unique social consciousness, style and expertly crafted lyrics into the national spotlight in 1988, and was followed by Empire in 1990, the album that delivered Queensryche to arena-headlining status and sold more than three million albums on the back of hit singles and radio staples “Silent Lucidity” and “Jet City Woman.”

By the time the band released Promised Land in 1994, Geoff Tate was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest frontmen in rock and metal, and a driving force behind one of the most innovative bands in mainstream music.

From Mindcrime and Promised Land through 2009’s overlooked gem American Soldier – Tate’s ambitious concept album that explores the consequences of war as told through the voices of veterans – Tate’s 13-album tenure with Queensryche was marked by exploration, intrigue, bold risks and gratifying results.

The Key continues in that fine tradition.

Come February, Operation: Mindcrime will be bringing fans just what the doctor ordered with the usual surgical precision.

Call it “a musical journey to the center of your brain.”

Let the “Operation” begin.

Operation: Mindcrime will wrap up the initial leg of their tour in Geoff Tate’s hometown of Seattle, Washington with a performance at The Neptune on March 18.

For interview requests and additional materials, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at rockstarpr@aol.com.

OPERATION: MINDCRIME ONLINE:
Website: www.operationmindcrime.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/operationmindcrimeband / www.facebook.com/geofftateofficial
Twitter: www.twitter.com/geofftate

OPERATION: MINDCRIME OFFICIAL VIDEOS FROM THE KEY:
Re-Inventing The Future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX7lRZmt8Hw
Burn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlVE5CvFc9c
The Stranger (lyric video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbjEBGBaI9M

FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL ONLINE:
Website: www.frontiers.it

THE ALBRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP ONLINE:
Website: www.rockstarpr.com

OPERATION: MINDCRIME U.S. TOUR 2016

FEBRUARY

3 – Strummer’s in Fresno, California
4 – The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California
5 – Ramona Mainstage in Ramona, California
6 – Count’s Vamp’d Rock Bar & Grill in Las Vegas, Nevada
9 – Psychedelic Ballroom & Juke Joint in Reno, California
10 – Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach, California
11 – The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California
12 – The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, California
13 – Ace of Spades in Sacramento, California
15 – Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona
16 – Livewire in Scottsdale, Arizona
18 – Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico
19 – Granada Theater in Dallas, Texas
20 – Alamo City Music Hall in San Antonio, Texas
21 – Scout Bar in Houston, Texas
23 – 12th & Porter in Nashville, Tennessee
24 – Capone’s in Johnson City, Tennessee
25 – Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina
26 – Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina
27 – Headquarters Live in Salisbury, Maryland
28 – Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, Pennsylvania

MARCH

1 – Gramercy Theatre in New York, New York
2 – The Paramount Theater in Huntington, New York
3 – The Westcott Theater in Syracuse, New York
4 – The Chance in Poughkeepsie, New York
5 – Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, New Hampshire
7 – Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, Maryland
9 – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale, Pennsylvania
10 – House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio
11 – The Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan
12 – Tailgaters Grill in Bolingbrook, Illinois
13 – The Cotillion in Wichita, Kansas
17 – Hawthorne Theatre in Portland, Oregon
18 – The Neptune in Seattle, Washington

October 20, 2015

SAX PLAYER EXTRAORDINAIRE EDDIE MANION,
WHO HAS TOURED AND RECORDED WITH SUCH ARTISTS AS
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND,
SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY AND THE ASBURY JUKES,
LITTLE STEVEN AND THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL
AND THE ROBERT CRAY BAND AMONG OTHERS,
SET TO RELEASE FIRST INSTRUMENTAL CD, NIGHTLIFE, ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

EDDIE “KINGFISH” MANION TO CELEBRATE NEW ALBUM RELEASE
BY HOSTING AND PERFORMING AT SERIES OF “FIRST LISTEN PARTIES”
AT ASBURY PARK WHERE MUSIC LIVES BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD

Saxophonist Eddie Manion’s recording and touring work over the last ten years has been largely centered around his lifelong relationship with recording and touring artist Bruce Springsteen. Manion was a member of Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions band in 2005 recording the historic studio album We Shall Overcome and subsequent live album Live in Dublin and most recently was a part of Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball and High Hopes tours and studio albums on Columbia Records. Last year, Eddie completed a wildly successful 3 year worldwide tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band from 2012 to 2014, playing 167 shows in 27 countries to over 4 million fans.

Manion’s bold style of classic R&B and Rock & Roll ’Texas Tenor’ sound and his extensive expertise in leading and arranging for horn sections has led him to a 40-plus year career in Rock & Roll, R&B, Jazz, and Blues. You could say that any group that came out of New Jersey in the last 40 years that involved horns probably had something to do with Eddie Manion.

Manion first honed his prodigious musical style with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes in the late 1970’s and Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul in the early 1980’s. In a letter of recommendation dated February 23, 1984 Steven Van Zandt wrote: “‘Kingfish’ as we affectionately called him at the time was and still is one of the best tenor and baritone sax players I have ever worked with and I’ve worked with them all. His baritone sax solos on two songs I produced, “I Played the Fool” by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on Epic Records and “Forever” by Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul on EMI Records, stand as the definitive rock and soul performances of the genre.”

Rounding out Manion’s Rock & Roll Jersey Shore Legend status have been extensive tours with Willy DeVille, Diana Ross, Dave Edmunds and other artists. Eddie was a member of the Robert Cray Band in 1993 and recorded the Grammy-nominated Blues album Shame + A Sin on Mercury Records.

Eddie Manion has lived a life of Rock & Roll, R&B, Jazz, and Blues. Whenever Bruce Springsteen needed a horn section he has always called Manion; initially in 1977 for a historic group of shows at the Monmouth Arts Center in Red Bank, on his 1988 Tunnel of Love Tour, right up to his most recent Wrecking Ball and High Hopes world tours from 2012 – 2014.

Nightlife is Manion’s first solo instrumental release and it features songs that he’s loved over his many years as a masterful player. The album will be officially released on November 17th. All tracks were recorded and mastered by Grammy Award winner Hollis Greathouse of Audible Images in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “City at Night / Soul Serenade” was mixed by Grammy Award winner Toby Scott.

The new album includes Manion’s take on Gene Pitney’s gorgeously mournful “Town Without Pity”; R&B classics such as “It’s Gonna Take A Miracle” and “A Change is Gonna Come”; Jimmy Forrest’s “Bolo Blues”; Jazz standards “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Tenderly,” and “Stardust”, Springsteen deep cut “City at Night” paired brilliantly with King Curtis’ “Soul Serenade”; Roy Orbison’s “The Only One”; Luiz Bonfá’s “Manhã de Carnaval;” and the bluesy title cut “Nightlife” by Willie Nelson. These selections make for a sweet, soulful, and romantic mix which is downright perfect for romantic, cuddly evenings in front of the fireplace with your loved one.

The album also contains a booklet of photographs taken by Manion as he traveled the world on the most recent Springsteen tour. He is an accomplished photographer and this makes the new album even more special. “When I’m on the road, I like to get out of my hotel room and take a few pictures of this beautiful world in which we live,” says Manion.

Eddie Manion will be a featured artist on the Light of Day Europe 2015 Tour this fall, which will encompass shows in the British Isles, Scandinavia, Italy and Germany. Eddie will host his Official UK Record Release Party for Nightlife at the Hind Hotel in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England on December 7. Tickets are available only via The Hind Hotel on 01933222827 or enquiries@thehind.co.uk He will also be a featured artist at two Light of Day Canada shows on November 6 and 7 www.lightofdaycanada.com and in July 2016 he will head to Light of Day Australia.

Manion will also host First Listen Parties for his new album at Asbury Park Where Music Lives on October 23rd and 24th 12 -3 PM and October 25th 7-10 PM (a few tickets remain at http://tickets.asburyparkmusiclives.org/). He will perform a few selections from the new album joined by his E Street cohort, keyboardist Charlie Giordano. Manion will also join Dave Marsh on E Street Radio to premiere the new album live on air 10am-noon Wednesday, October 21st.

​​On January 9, 2016 Ed Manion will headline an official record release show at the world renowned Strand Theater in Zelienople, constructed in 1914 and recently renovated. Fellow Pittsburgh musician and good friend Joe Grushecky will open the show acoustically with Manion. Other musicians and special guests will be announced closer to show date. ​Tickets may be purchased either by calling the Box Office 724-742-0400 or via this web link: ​ https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/952416 ​.​

​For more information on Eddie Manion, links to pre-order the new album, and tour dates please visit http://www.eddiemanion.com/.

If you’d like to interview Eddie regarding the forthcoming CD or tour dates, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at rockstarpr@aol.com.

# # #

July 7, 2015

GEOFF TATE’S OPERATION: MINDCRIME TO UNLOCK PART ONE

OF EPIC MUSICAL TRILOGY WITH RELEASE OF “THE KEY”

ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 ON FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL

“THE KEY” — A TWELVE-SONG DISC FEATURING SUCH SONGS AS

“BURN,” “RE-INVENTING THE FUTURE,” “LIFE OR DEATH?” AND “THE FALL” —

TO EXPAND MINDS THROUGH MUSIC BY PONDERING THE DISCOVERY OF

“THE KEY” THAT COULD CHANGE THE WAY WE PERCEIVE THE WORLD

On Friday, September 18, Geoff Tate’s new band, Operation: Mindcrime, will be releasing its long-awaited debut album, The Key, on Frontiers Music Srl.

Perhaps one of Tate’s most ambitious recordings to date, The Key examines what one might do if they discovered “the key” to changing the way we view the world, the way we look at time, the way we travel, and could essentially change the human condition… for better or for worse.

Fresh from the creative mind of Geoff Tate, The Key features a dozen songs (see entire track listing below) and marks part one of an epic musical trilogy that initiates that very question within a web of international politics, the world economy and social ethos.

A trailer featuring snippets of four songs from the album (“Burn,” “Re-Inventing the Future,” “Life Or Death?” and “The Fall”) is now available at https://youtu.be/zOEL6lc1Xsl, with pre-orders of the album now being taken at http://radi.al/TheKeyAmazonCD and http://radi.al/TheKeyAmazonMP3.

The Key is the debut album under Tate’s new Operation: Mindcrime banner, a creative platform that continues in the spirit of the historic album of the same name, spawning concepts as grand as the music, and intertwining the intensity of the former Queensryche vocalist’s iconic past with the provocative, progressive mindset that has made him one of music’s most resolute forces and frontmen.

Geoff Tate has sold more than 25 million records at the helm of Queensryche, the band he fronted for 30 years from their inception through 2012, earning three Grammy nominations, five MTV Music Video Award nomimations, and one MTV Music Video Award along the way.

The landmark concept album Operation: Mindcrime thrust Tate’s unique social consciousness, style and expertly crafted lyrics into the national spotlight in 1988, and was followed by Empire in 1990, the album that delivered Queensryche to arena-headlining status and sold more than three million albums on the back of hit singles and radio staples “Silent Lucidity” and “Jet City Woman.”

By the time the band released Promised Land in 1994, Geoff Tate was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest frontmen in rock and metal, and a driving force behind one of the most innovative bands in mainstream music.

From Mindcrime and Promised Land through 2009’s overlooked gem American Soldier – Tate’s ambitious concept album that explores the consequences of war as told through the voices of veterans – Tate’s 13-album tenure with Queensryche was marked by exploration, intrigue, bold risks and gratifying results.

The Key continues in that fine tradition.

“Musically, this album is quite adventurous,” says Tate of his first release in a new worldwide deal with Frontiers Music SRL. “Of course there are key elements in the music, melody and phrasings that are really identifiable, but throughout my career I’ve opened my eyes and ears to new standards and arrangements, and that’s what keeps things fresh and exciting as an artist – we’ve thrown out the rules for this record, and it’s been really liberating. I’m a fan of old prog, and that music didn’t stick to rules. It’s inspiring and enjoyable to be able to explore, and it’s great being in a position to write without constraints.”

The results are a series of albums that don’t languish in nostalgia, instead offering listeners an opportunity to delve into a world of ideas and inspiration that Tate has been nurturing for the better portion of the last decade. Instead of asking, “Who killed Mary?”, Operation: Mindcrime now asks, “What are the implications of changing the world?”

“Like every album I’ve ever done, people will hear and experience it differently, and that is something that I look forward to,” continues Tate. “Music is an intimate experience – your inspirations are unique to you, and will be heard differently through every set of ears and experiences – but isn’t that really what makes art exciting? It inspires us all in different ways and for different reasons, and this album is no different. There are quite a few sections of this album that help propel the story with segues and dialogue, but the lyrics don’t lay out a breadcrumb trail and tell the story in a linear fashion, there’s a puzzle. We have several characters, and three other people singing lead vocals on the first album. That made it even more fun for me and helps give the album its own special character.

“Musically, there’s quite a smorgasbord, we’ve played with sound and established a sound palate – heavy guitar, obviously, cool drumming… all the music is very sophisticated, and there are interesting time changes, the band is playing with different countings and we switch throughout each piece. We can perform the verse in one feel, the bridge in another, and transition to a new chorus, very challenging stuff and lots of different sounds that people probably haven’t heard on one of my albums before – new and different guitar sounds and vocal treatments, very dynamic stuff.”

Joining Tate on The Key are a hard-hitting cast of familiar faces and new collaborators: bass players Dave Ellefson (Metal Allegiance) and John Moyer (Disturbed, Adrenaline Mob), drummers Simon Wright (AC/DC), Scott Mercado (Candlebox) and Brian Tichy (Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne), guitarists Kelly Gray (Queensryche) and Scott Moughton (Geoff Tate), keyboardist Randy Gane (Myth) and vocalist Mark Daly (The Voodoos).

Tate makes one point exceptionally clear – Operation: Mindcrime isn’t a band, it is a musical project of like-minded people uniting to achieve a common goal. While the songwriting rests predominantly on the shoulders of Tate, Gray and Gane, it’s up to every contributor to add their influence and help color the landscape.

“The songs on these records tell a story, and each song is a scene or chapter – every scene is different. The words tell the story, the musical bed, the chord progressions and melodies, they set the pace. That’s how I envisioned this album in total, very theatrical and definitely cinematic.

“How do we describe passion?” Tate asks in conclusion, cautiously answering his own question: “Music is a personal journey, and all you can do is write what moves you. That’s what passion is – it’s so difficult, yet it’s such an important human emotion. There are moments on this record that really impact me, the questions raised and the music those questions are set to… I don’t know if it will have that same effect on everyone else, but that’s where my passion and their passion meet. I do this because I love doing it. I love touring and I love playing live, performing with like-minded people in front of like-minded audiences, and being there in the moment together when all of our passions collide.”

And if, in the process, Geoff Tate can tell a story that turns people on end and keeps them talking long after the music has stopped playing? That’s not just icing on the cake, that’s what it’s all about…

That is Operation: Mindcrime.

And come this September, fans will have The Key.

With music videos currently in production and a first single that’s expected to be released by the end of this month, further mind expansion is yet to come.

OPERATION: MINDCRIME’S THE KEY TRACKLISTING:

Choices

Burn

Re-Inventing The Future

Ready To Fly

Discussions In A Smoke Filled Room

Life or Death?

The Stranger

Hearing Voice

On Queue

An Ambush Of Sadness

Kicking In The Door

The Fall

SNIPPETS OF “BURN,” “RE-INVENTING THE FUTURE,” “LIFE OR DEATH?” AND “THE FALL” CAN BE HEARD AT:

https://youtu.be/zOEL6lc1Xsl

PRE-ORDER LINKS (GLOBAL) FOR OPERATION: MINDCRIME’S DEBUT ALBUM, THE KEY, ON AMAZON:

http://radi.al/TheKeyAmazonCD

http://radi.al/TheKeyAmazonMP3

ALBUM CREDITS:

Recorded and Mixed by Kelly Gray

OPERATION: MINDCRIME ONLINE:

Website: www.operationmindcrime.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/operationmindcrimeband / www.facebook.com/geofftateofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/geofftate

FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL ONLINE:

Website: www.frontiers.it

# # #

For interview requests and additional materials, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at rockstarpr@aol.com.

THE ALBRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT GROUP – www.rockstarpr.com

June 15, 2015

ROCK THE YACHT TOUR 2015 TO SAIL ACROSS UNITED STATES

THIS SUMMER WITH LITTLE RIVER BAND, AMBROSIA, PLAYER,

STEPHEN BISHOP AND ROBBIE DUPREE PERFORMING NOTHING BUT THE HITS

NEW TOUR WITH DATES BEGINNING IN JULY

TO FEATURE POPULAR SONGS FROM THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES

If you feel like “Reminiscing” this summer and have a tendency to keep “Holdin’ On To Yesterday,” then we’ve got just the concert ticket for you!

“Baby Come Back!”

“Help Is on Its Way!”

Rock The Yacht 2015 — featuring Little River Band, Ambrosia, Player, Stephen Bishop and Robbie Dupree — is coming at you with a boatload of sensational songs from the late seventies and early eighties.

While the full tour itinerary has yet to be announced, Rock The Yacht is expected to “dock” in at least a dozen cities throughout the United States beginning in mid-July (see below for current itinerary).

Little River Band was formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975. It was originally a blend of musicians who had enjoyed success in other Australian rock acts. Their new focus was to get airplay on American radio, and they achieved that goal with good songwriting, powerful vocals and guitar harmonies. They immediately claimed their place as one of the great vocal bands of the ’70s… and the ’80s! Between 1976 and 1983, their chart success in America included the following singles: “It’s a Long Way There,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary,” “Reminiscing,” “Lady,” “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Man On Your Mind,” “We Two” and “The Other Guy.” Considered to be one of Australia’s most significant bands, Little River Band boasts worldwide album and CD sales topping 30 million. They were the first band to have Top 10 hits for six consecutive years. According to BMI, two of their most popular songs, “Reminiscing” and “Lady” have had five million and four million airplays in America, respectively. In 2004, they were, rightfully, inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame. The current line-up brings new energy and arrangements to the classic hits, making new memories for the audience out of each live performance. This year, you’ll likely see plenty of people mouthing the words, “I love this song… I forgot it was one of Little River Band’s hits!”

Ambrosia is an American rock band formed in southern California in 1970. They had five Top 40 hit singles between 1975 and 1980 and, after a hiatus during the late 1980’s, most of the original band members have been active with the group for the past 25 years to the present day. In 1975, Ambrosia would release their self-titled debut album on 20th Century Fox Records that featured the Top 20 single, “Holdin’ On To Yesterday.” The legendary Alan Parsons engineered the album, which would be nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Engineered Recording” category. That same year, all four members of Ambrosia would play on the first album from the Alan Parsons Project. In 1976, the band would release, Somewhere I’ve Never Traveled, which also received a Grammy nomination, setting the stage for the band’s signing to Warner Bros. Records. The year 1978 marked Ambrosia’s biggest pop breakthrough with their first gold single, “How Much I Feel,” off Life Beyond L.A.. Two years later, they would have Top 20 single success with two singles, “Biggest Part of Me” and “You’re the Only Woman (You & I),” featured on their One Eighty release. Ambrosia appeared on the May 2, 2011 episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as part of the host’s “Yacht Rock 2k11” theme show, performing “Biggest Part of Me” (during the show) and “How Much I Feel” (after the formal taping, but put up on the Late Night website). Today, the band consists of original members Joe Puerta (bassist/vocalist), Christopher North (keyboardist) and Burleigh Drummond (drummer) and they continue to tour all over the world, performing both their legacy hit material and more recent songs.

The band Player features original members Peter Beckett and Ronn Moss and is best known for their international number one hit, “Baby Come Back.” Their biggest hit came about when Peter had just split from someone he had been in a relationship with for a long time. Still feeling the pain, he sat down with J.C. Crowley to write, and their moods were reflected in the song. First played on the radio in October of 1977, it would ultimately reach the top of the charts in January of 1978. Later that year, Player would be voted “Best New Single Artist” by Billboard magazine’s honor roll. Just two months after “Baby Come Back” hit the pinnacle position on the charts, Player would experience another Top 10 hit with “This Time I’m In It For Love,” which also appeared on their self-titled debut album, Player. Quick to capitalize on their immense success, the band would release another album that year, Danger Zone, that featured a Top 40 hit called, “Prisoner of Love.” Where their first album captured the sunny sound of California pop, Danger Zone illustrated the band’s progressive pop/rock side with heavier guitars pushed to the front. The core of the band reunited in 2007 and in 2013, released their most recent studio effort titled, Too Many Reasons (Frontier Records). That same year, they embarked on a summer tour called Sail Rock with Christopher Cross, Orleans, Gary Wright, Firefall, John Ford Coley and Robbie Dupree.

At the age of 13, Stephen Bishop found himself a crossroads. A clarinetist with hopes of becoming a history teacher, he was forever changed after watching the Beatles one night on The Ed Sullivan Show. He soon convinced his brother to buy him an electric guitar, wrote his first song called, “Surf’s Turf,” and formed a band called The Weeds that played original and Top 40 songs at local fraternity parties. He headed to Los Angeles, where he walked the streets playing his $12 acoustic guitar, playing songs for various publishers in Hollywood. Through a friend, Art Garfunkel heard some of Stephen’s songs and, ultimately, recorded two for his 1975 Breakaway album. It wouldn’t be long before he was singing his songs in person for the likes of Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Bette Midler and Michelle Phillips. He signed a record deal with ABC Records and released his debut album, Careless, in 1976 that featured the hit songs, “Save It For a Rainy Day” and “On and On.” The album went gold as did his ’78 follow-up, which was simply titled, Bish. He sang the theme, “It Might Be You,” from the movie, Tootsie, in addition to writing or singing songs for thirteen other films including White Nights and Animal House. Yes, that’s Stephen singing “I Gave My Love a Cherry” on the staircase at the toga party, when John Belushi takes away and smashes his guitar.

Singer, songwriter Robbie Dupree began his music career in the clubs of New York’s Greenwich Village in the late 60’s. After years of performing in Rhythm and Blues bands (including one called New World Rising with renowned producer and guitarist Nile Rodgers), Robbie relocated to Los Angeles in 1978 in search of a new music world. The move paid off as a new musical partnership was born with old friends Rick Chudacoff and Peter Bunetta, leading to Robbie’s first recording contract on Elektra Records. His debut album from 1980 produced two major hit singles, “Steal Away” and “Hot Rod Hearts,” both of which are now classics. In 1981, Robbie was honored by being nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best New Artist” category. Robbie’s music can be heard in major motion pictures, network television shows and national sports events. VH1 recently featured a profile of his enduring career… He continues to record and maintain a full touring schedule, performing on concert stages around the world.

Isn’t it time for a “Cool Change?”

Come on board and Rock The Yacht this summer!

If you’d like to interview one of the artists regarding the tour or need additional press materials, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at rockstarpr@aol.com.

ROCK THE YACHT TOUR 2015

Wednesday, July 15 – Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey

Thursday, July 16 – St. George Theatre in Staten Island, New York

Friday, July 17 – NYCB Theatre at Westbury in Westbury, New York

Thursday, July 23 – Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio

Friday, July 24 – RiverEdge Park in Aurora, Illinois

Sunday, July 26 – North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts (Ambrosia, Firefall, Player, Stephen Bishop and Robbie Dupree)

Wednesday, September 16 – Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky

Friday, September 18 – IP Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi

*More dates expected to be announced.

Individual Artist Websites are as follows:

www.littleriverband.com

www.ambrosialive.net

www.player-theband.com

www.stephenbishop.com

www.robbiedupree.com

June 2, 2015

MELVIN SEALS & JGB TO PAY HOMAGE TO JERRY GARCIA

AT THIRD ANNUAL AFTIVAL IN AUGUST BY RECREATING

TWO LEGENDARY JERRY GARCIA BAND SHOWS FROM 1976

AFTIVAL PERFORMANCES BY MELVIN SEALS & JGB ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

AND SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 AT THE HIVE IN SANDPOINT, IDAHO

TO FEATURE TRAVIS BEAN GUITAR PREVIOUSLY OWNED AND PLAYED

BY THE LATE, GREAT JERRY GARCIA ON SELECT TOUR DATES IN 1976

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND TO PERFORM WITH JERRY GARCIA’S

TAKAMINE EF360S, MARKING FIRST TIME GUITAR HAS BEEN PLAYED IN PUBLIC

SINCE JERRY GARCIA USED IT WITH THE JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND,

INCLUDING THE FAMOUS AND HISTORIC LUNT FONTANNE RUN IN 1987

Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead fans have, yet, something else to look forward to this summer as the band celebrates their 50th Anniversary in 2015.

Welcome to AFTIVAL, a two-weekend concert series at The Hive in Sandpoint, Idaho taking place on August 7-8 and 14-15 hot on the heels of the Grateful Dead’s Fare Thee Well three-night spectacle at Chicago’s Soldier Field in early July.

Weekend one will be kicked off by The Funky Meters on Friday (8/7), with the Yonder Mountain String Band hitting the stage on Saturday (8/8), where the band’s guitarist/vocalist Adam Aijala will be playing with the very same Takamine EF360s that Jerry Garcia played from approximately 1985 until 1988, including the famous Lunt Fontanne shows in October of 1987. This marks the first time the guitar will be used for a public performance since Jerry performed with it on stage in ’87.

The second weekend of the third annual AFTIVAL will feature two rare and unique performances by Melvin Seals & JGB as the band recreates two Jerry Garcia Band performances from 1976 song-by-song using the same Travis Bean TB500 #11 guitar owned and played by Garcia in these shows in 1976.

“We look forward to bringing Melvin Seals & JGB to The Hive for what promises to be a truly memorable AFTIVAL event,” states Jeff Grady, Hive owner, AFTIVAL producer and owner of three historically significant, stage-played Jerry Garcia guitars, including the Travis Bean TB500 #11.

“Watching JGB guitarist and vocalist David Hebert perform with Jerry’s guitar at the two shows will be a special moment for all in attendance, including me,” comments Jeff, adding, “It will be an historic tribute where Jerry’s guitar will be reunited with the music that Jerry loved so much… this particular guitar is seen and heard on the Grateful Dead album, Long Strange Trip. Twenty years almost to the week after his passing, Jerry will definitely be here in spirit.”

Melvin Seals is looking forward to the show stating, “We haven’t been to Idaho in a while… looking forward to seeing all the fans and rocking the house!”

Celebrating its third year, AFTIVAL follows the Festival at Sandpoint where, for over thirty years, people have traveled hundreds and even thousands of miles to see music artists over the course of consecutive weekends in August.

What initially started off as a rather local event has now attracted followers from surrounding states and beyond.

As an avid music fan, Jeff Grady’s initial mission with both The Hive and AFTIVAL was to bring great music to Sandpoint… mission accomplished.

Located at the foot of the Selkirk mountains and on the shores of beautiful Lake Pend Oreille, The Hive has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier live music venues.

“We hope to conjure up some great vibes by honoring Jerry Garcia over these two nights in August and, wholeheartedly, expect Jerry and Dead fans from all over the country to attend.”

While the four remaining original members of the Grateful Dead — Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir — gear up for their epic three-night “Fare Thee Well” 50th Anniversary concert event (with renowned musicians Trey Anastasio, Jeff Chimenti and multiple GRAMMY-winner Bruce Hornsby) taking place on July 3, 4 and 5 from Chicago’s Soldier Field, Dead fans can certainly anticipate the Sandpoint tribute to Jerry Garcia by Melvin Seals & JGB come August.

On Friday, August 14, The Hive — located at 207 North First Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho — will be hosting a special Meet & Greet reception with Melvin Seals & JGB prior to the show (5:00pm – 6:00pm) for those who purchase a VIP ticket for that evening (or Saturday). A special $50 ticket will enable ticket buyers access to both the M&G and show that night. Fans will get the opportunity to meet Melvin and the band and will also be able to view three historically-significant guitars that were once owned and played by Jerry Garcia that will be on display (Travis Bean TB500 #11, Travis Bean TB500 #12 and Takamine EF360s). “Up close and personal.”

What a long strange trip it’s been… and the appearance of Melvin Seals & JGB at this summer’s AFTIVAL only proves it isn’t over yet.

Tickets for each of the four shows are $40 and go on sale today, Tuesday, June 2, via the TicketsWest link on The Hive site – www.LiveFromTheHive.com.

A four-show ticket is available for $120.

A select number of VIP booths are available for all four shows.

Please contact VIP@LiveFromTheHive.com for further information.

Tickets can also be purchased day-of-show at the venue.

If you’d like to interview Melvin Seals or Jeff Grady, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at RockStarPR@aol.com.

Additional press materials (Melvin Seals & JGB photos, images/history of the Jerry Garcia guitars and venue photos) are available upon request.

AFTIVAL SITE – www.LiveFromTheHive.com

MELVIN SEALS & JGB SITE – www.MelvinSealsandJGB.com

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRAING BAND SITE – www.YonderMountain.com

THE FUNKY METERS – www.FunkyMeters.com

TICKETSWEST – www.ticketswest.com

FESTIVAL AT SANDPOINT SITE – www.FestivalatSandpoint.com

AFTIVAL is brought to you by Low Country Boil Productions.