‘Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters’ Return in 2019 for a UK & European Tour

I saw them last year at the London Palladium and they are well worth seeing…

‘Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters’ Return in 2019 for a UK & European Tour to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s Debut Album

Marking fifty years since the release of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album – and its follow-up, Led Zeppelin II – Australia’s celebrated live concert event Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters will return to the UK for ten-dates in April 2019 as part of their European tour.

Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Vince Contarino and bolstered by the breathtaking might of the thirty-five-piece The Black Dog Orchestra, Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters features no fewer than eighteen Led Zeppelin classics.

From the raw, metallic blues of Whole Lotta Love to the epic Stairway to Heaven and the sheer exhilaration of Kashmir, Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters celebrates the timeless musical legacy of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones with a no-holds-barred concert performing the masterpieces of Led Zeppelin.

Having performed numerous sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House and nationwide tours across Australia, Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters’ debut UK tour in 2017 was so successful their 2019 return will preceded by eight dates in mainland Europe for the first time.

Vince Contarino said, “To be able to come back to the UK means the world to us. We were welcomed graciously and treated with the utmost respect when we toured the UK for the first time in 2017, despite being an unknown and unproven act in the UK. To be asked back for an even bigger tour is hugely gratifying. We are feeling the love, and we’re going to be coming back over to give it back by the truckload.”

Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters’ debut UK tour received glowing praise from both Led Zeppelin fans and the music critics alike – including Dave Lewis the editor of the world-famous Led Zeppelin fanzine Tight But Loose, who said the band’s performance of The Rain Song was “quite simply one of the best performances of a Zep song performed by a band that were not Led Zeppelin I’ve ever witnessed.”

Vince said, “We were taken aback by the reception we received. We loved that the UK audiences are so demonstrative – the energy is amazing. We are also still in disbelief when we look back at the reviews the press gave us throughout the first tour. They were so positive and encouraging. In fact, as the reviews were coming in we just kept trying harder and harder each night, so as to keep the standard up.

With the tour falling in between the anniversaries of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album and its follow-up, Led Zeppelin II, released in March and October of 1969, respectively, Vince admits the timing of the tour is a happy coincidence, “It was only when we saw the tour dates that we realised the timing was perfect. Look at it this way, spending time with friends is a blessing and a great thing to do, but if there is a good reason to celebrate, like a birthday or an anniversary, then crack out the champagne and let’s party!”

The ten-date UK tour will begin at Liverpool’s Philharmonic on Tuesday, 2^nd April 2019, and end at London’s Eventim Apollo on Sunday, 14^th April.

Tickets are on sale now, available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Don’t miss this explosive celebration of the music of Led Zeppelin as one of the most ambitious concerts ever to meet the stage returns to the UK. Way, way down inside, you need it!

The full list of European tour dates for Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Masters’ is as follows:

March

Sat 23^rd            Bergen             Grieghallen     (http://www.grieghallen.no/display.aspx?menuid=&prodid=1173)

Sun 24^th           Oslo                 Konserthus     (https://www.oslokonserthus.no/program/led-zeppelin-masters/)

Wed 27^th          Utrecht            Tivoli              (https://www.tivolivredenburg.nl/agenda/stairway-to-heaven-led-zeppelin-masters-27-03-2019/)
Thu 28^th           Groningen       De Osterpoort (https://www.de-oosterpoort.nl/programma/led-zeppelin-masters/)

Sat 30^th            Brussels           Cirque Royal   (https://www.ticketmaster.be/artist/stairway-to-heaven-tickets/492573?language=en-us)

Sun 31^st           Eindhoven       Musiekgebouw (https://www.muziekgebouweindhoven.nl/Led_Zeppelin_Masters)

April 2019

Tue 2^nd             Liverpool        Philharmonic              0151 709 3789            liverpoolphil.com

Wed 3^rd           Cardiff             St Davids                     029 2087 8444            stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

Fri 5^th               Newcastle       City Hall                       0844 811 21 21           theatreroyal.co.uk

Sat 6^th              Edinburgh       Usher Hall                   0131 228 1155            usherhall.co.uk

Sun 7^th            Manchester      Bridgewater                 0161 907 9000            bridgewater-hall.co.uk

Tue 9^th             Nottingham     Royal Concert Hall     0115 989 5555            trch.co.uk

Wed 10^th         Portsmouth      Guildhall                     023 9387 0200            portsmouthguildhall.org.uk

Fri 12^th             Southend        Cliffs Pavilion            01702 351 135            southendtheatres.org.uk

Sat 13^th            Birmingham    Symphony Hall           0121 780 3333            thsh.co.uk

Sun 14^th           London            Eventim Apollo          020 8563 3800            eventimapollo.com

LEDZEPPELINMASTERS.COM

LedZeppelinMastersLive

@LedZepMasters

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ELO ‘Secret Messages’ vinyl only re-issue plus six added songs

The secret messages are calling to me endlessly
They call to me across the air
The messages across the atmosphere
They whisper in your ear, they’re calling everywhere…

Today, June 5, marks the 35th anniversary of Secret Messages. To celebrate, here’s a “secret message”:

For the first time ever, ELO’s Secret Messages will be released as a double album on August 3rd! This 2LP release adds six tracks to its running order, all with cutting-edge synthesizers and up-front guitar mastery. Listen as Jeff Lynne’s eclectic creation of self-written, self-produced songs come to life as originally conceived in 1983.

Pre-order here: https://lnk.to/SecretMessages

Note: This is a vinyl LP release. It will go up on streaming services on release day.

BERNIE TORME The Final Fling Tour

‘(Bernie) did me a great favour. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be doing it now. I’d have given up’.
Ozzy Osbourne, 2018

Last orders at the bar…

World-renowned guitar legend Bernie Tormé will be heading out on tour for the final time in the U.K. later this year.

With a new studio album rumoured to be in the offing, the celebrated Irish six-stringer will hit the road for a string of dates in November/December.

A man whose CV is as impressive as his six-string dexterity, Tormé has lent his enviable skills over the years to Gillan, Ozzy Osbourne, Dee Snider, Atomic Rooster and many others whilst maintaining an acclaimed solo career alongside.

Prior to the final U.K. tour Tormé and his band will be heading to the prestigious Sweden Rock festival, playing alongside the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, Rose Tattoo and a certain Mr. Osbourne…

“Elegantly crafted music based around the man’s electrifying blues, with a kick.”
Classic Rock

Bernie Tormé ‘The Final Fling’ UK 2018

22^nd Nov – Facebar, Reading
23^rd Nov – Queen Vic, South Shields
24^th Nov – Winterstorm Festival, Troon
25^th Nov – Bannermans, Edinburgh
27^th Nov – Robin II, Bilston, Wolverhampton
28^th Nov – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
30^th Nov – The Lounge, London
1^st Dec – The Bear, Weston-super-Mare

Guitar legend, blues rock psychedelic shredmeister, glam punk sleaze rock frontman: Bernie Tormé has enjoyed a long and remarkable career. Hit records, world tours and international acclaim came as lead guitarist in Gillan. After which, Bernie stepped in for Ozzy Osbourne in the aftermath of guitar legend Randy Rhoads‘ tragic death before going on to front Electric Gypsies and Tormé. Teaming up with Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider and Iron Maiden’s drummer Clive Burr,

Bernie put together Desperado and later reunited with ex-Gillan colleague, John McCoy and drummer Robin Guy in GMT.

Returning to the stage in 2013, Bernie also began working in his favoured trio format once again, releasing three critically-acclaimed albums; ‘Flowers & Dirt‘ (2014), ‘Blackheart’ (2015) and the 3CD ‘Dublin Cowboy’ (2017) package (comprising a live, an acoustic, and a new electric studio album). All three were crowdfunded, connecting Bernie directly with his fans.

Bernie states: “In the past you were pretty distant and separated from your fans with a record label in between. Making these albums with pledge campaigns has been a great experience. I like having the connection with fans and getting the feedback direct on making an album.”

2018 will see the release of Bernie’s latest, as-yet untitled, studio album.

Bernie Tormé has recorded over 24 albums in his career to date as a solo artist or band member.

PAUL RODGERS Free Spirit

Quarto Valley Records/Icons [Release date 22.06.18]

Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, London last year this live set sees Paul Rodgers perform a set solely made up for Free classics. It comes as a two disc CD/DVD set, Blu-ray disc (which features Deborah Bonham and his daughter Jasmine Rodgers) and a 3LP set, all of which would be considerably cheaper than the tickets to the shows!

Backed by Deborah Bonham’s band Paul Rodgers is in fine voice still, full of blues, rock and soul – lets be honest this man could sing your weekly shopping list and still give you goose bumps. For fans it gives a chance to hear songs like ‘Love You So’ and ‘Catch A Train’ performed live for the first time as Free never got the opportunity to. The musicianship is top draw as can be heard on Ian Rowley’s bass lines on ‘Mr. Big’ or Pete Bullick’s guitar solo on ‘The Stealer’ – fitting tributes to both Andy Fraser and Paul Kossoff. Shame that Simon Kirke wasn’t behind the drum kit though as he is the only other surviving member of the classic Free line-up along with Rodgers.

A ‘must have’ for any fan of Free and Paul Rodgers. Paul Rodgers has tour dates this summer with Jeff Beck and a few fronting Bad Company, both in the US.

A STATEMENT FROM PHIL MOGG OF UFO

Kudos to Phil Mogg who is going out on his own terms and not flogging a great name to death like some bands do. Hopefully some former members may appear along the way? Maybe like Michael Schenker has been touring with his past and present vocalists, UFO can do something with their former guitarists and maybe even see Pete Way back in the band?!

Phil Mogg has confirmed that next year’s 50th anniversary tour with UFO will be his last as the frontman of the long-running hard rock band. Consequently, it seems almost certain that at that point they will cease to exist. UFO were formed in London in 1969 and Mogg is their only ever-present member, performing on all of the group’s 22 studio albums.

“This decision has been a long time coming, I’ve considered stepping down at the end of UFO’s previous two tours,” Mogg explains. “I don’t want to call this a farewell tour as I hate that word, but next year’s gigs will represent my final tap-dancing appearances with the band.

“2019 marks UFO’s 50th anniversary, so the timing feels right,” he continues. “There will be a final tour of the UK and we will also play some shows in selected other cities that the band has a strong connection with. But outside of the UK this won’t be a long tour. Being out on the road isn’t always tremendously luxurious and although the playing is as great as it ever was, the stuff that surrounds it becomes very tiresome. I always told myself that when I reached that stage I would step down, and that’s what I’m going to do. This is the right time for me to quit.”

Mogg turned 70 back in April and although his voice remains strong, he admits that age played its part in his conclusion.

“I’m a big reader of obituaries, and my finger always goes down to: ‘I wonder how old they were…’,” he chuckles. “The last few years have been tough, losing Lemmy was awful and I was sad that Jimmy Bain passed on a cruise ship. That distressed me quite a lot.”

While many veteran bands in such a position simply cease playing live and continue to record, UFO will no longer be releasing new music. Last year’s covers collection ‘The Salentino Cuts’ is set to become a signing-off point, though Mogg insists that however unlikely the prospect might seem – the singer is a lone strand of consistency throughout a 50-year history – he would have no problem with UFO continuing with a replacement.

The band’s current line-up – completed by keyboard player/second guitarist Paul Raymond, guitarist Vinnie Moore, drummer Andy Parker and bassist Rob De Luca – have of course been informed of Mogg’s decision.

“I’ve told the guys that this is how it is,” he says. “They know it’s my time to go and they know that they can do whatever they want to do without me but I don’t want to play live or make records anymore, though having said that I might go on and do an album of my own. I’ll have to see how I feel about that.”

Of course UFO have either split up, retired or gone on hiatus several times before but Mogg is keen to make the distinction that next year’s dates don’t just mark the end of his touring commitments with UFO – for Phil, there will be no further concerts of any kind.

“For me, this is the end of my stint with UFO,” he clarifies. “This is a line in the sand. I’m suggesting we call the tour ‘Last Orders’, though I also like ‘The Bar Is Closing’. I’m also tempted to name it ‘The Drinks Are On Parker’,” he chuckles, referring to long-suffering sticksman Andy Parker.

You’ll have gathered that Mogg is not about to slash his wrists anytime soon. Of course he is sad that the finishing line is now within sight but has had sufficient time to live with and process such a massive personal decision.

“Maybe the best word to use is ‘bittersweet’,” he concludes. “But my time has arrived and all that remains is to make sure that we have a good tour.”

New book on Jeff Lynne’s ELO

Genesis Publications presents: ‘Wembley or Bust’

Offering a rare insight into Jeff Lynne’s ELO and celebrating his musical vision, Wembley or Bust is an official 184-page book and 7″ vinyl set. Each numbered copy in the limited edition is individually signed by Jeff Lynne. Reserve your copy now and see never-before-seen photos from the magnificent show at Wembley Stadium!

‘When I wrote and recorded these songs originally, I never would have expected the fantastic audience response all these years later; it’s amazing.’ – Jeff Lynne

More info: http://www.jefflynnebook.com

JEFF LYNNE’S ELO ANNOUNCES 2018 UK & EURO TOUR

Following triumphant performances in Oberhausen, Amsterdam and Zurich in 2016, as well as a sold out UK arena tour including London’s Wembley Stadium in June 2017, Jeff Lynne’s ELO have announced today that they will be returning to the UK and Europe for an extended run of shows in 2018. The newly announced shows will see the legendary band play 19 dates across the continent through September and October.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO play the following UK & EURO Arena dates in Autumn 2018:

September 2018

Wed 12 Stockholm, Ericsson Globe Arena
Fri 14 Oslo, Spektrum Arena
Sun 16 Copenhagen, Royal Arena
Tue 18 Hamburg, Barclaycard Arena
Wed 19 Berlin, Mercedes Benz Arena
Fri 21 Munich, Olympiahalle
Sun 23 Vienna, Stadhalle
Tue 25 Mannheim, SAP Arena
Thu 27 Amsterdam, Ziggo Dome
Sun 30 Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena

October 2018

Wed 03 Glasgow, SSE Hydro Arena
Fri 05 Manchester, Manchester Arena
Tue 09 Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
Wed 10 Birmingham, Arena Birmingham
Mon 15 Leeds, First Direct Arena
Wed 17 London, O2 Arena
Tue 23 Liverpool, Echo Arena
Wed 25 Dublin, 3Arena
Fri 26 Belfast, The SSE Arena

Tickets go on General Sale Friday November 17 at 9:00am local time.

Looking ahead to the new shows, Jeff said; “Our audiences are amazing. It’s like they’re in the group. We can’t wait to play for them again.”

More popular than ever, Jeff Lynne’s ELO have always been known for their epic live shows and with a distinct style that seamlessly and innovatively blends rock, pop and classical, ELO has had twenty six UK Top 40 singles, making Lynne’s sweeping productions some of the most recognisable music of the last forty years and helping sell over 50 million records worldwide.

June’s stunning Wembley Stadium gig is being immortalised in the live DVD ‘Wembley Or Bust’ out November 17th. In ‘Wembley or Bust,’ we see Jeff and his remarkable musical ensemble filling Wembley Stadium with one of the greatest rock & roll spectacles of all time, complete with bells, whistles and spaceships in front of a 60,000 capacity crowd.

http://www.JeffLynnesELO.com