Classic rockers REO Speedwagon, Styx and Ted Nugent will join forces for a 2012 summer tour dubbed 'The Midwest Rock 'N' Roll Express.'
The groups announced the tour in a press release Wednesday morning, which said, "Over 80 million albums sold worldwide. 12 Top 10 smash hit singles. Thousands of concerts performed. The time has come for the ultimate convergence of Rock's finest from the Midwest. REO Speedwagon, Styx and Ted Nugent will join forces for 'The Midwest Rock 'n Roll Express' 30-date U.S. tour. Rolling out May 1 in Hidalgo, TX, tickets for various cities will go on sale starting February 22."
REO Speedwagon and Styx both hail from Illinois, while Nugent, dubbed "The Motor City Madman," comes from nearby Michigan. All three acts built their fan bases through hard touring in the Midwest before eventually winning their way to radio success. At the height of their commercial success in 1980, REO's Hi Infidelity and Styx' Paradise Theatre albums dominated the #1 and #2 positions in Billboard's Top 200 albums chart for thirteen straight weeks. Nugent is best-known for hit albums like Cat Scratch Fever and Double Live Gonzo. In recent years he has become as recognizable for his reality TV shows, passionate defense of hunting and unapologetic Republican rhetoric as for his music.
"Forget all those TV shows with glee clubs singing rock songs," Styx guitarist/singer James "JY" Young said. "It's time for mega-Platinum Illinois bands Styx and REO Speedwagon in a battle to the end of the Mayan Calendar with the Motor City Madman!"
"I am a Midwest boy, born and raised with Midwest values," REO Speedwagon singer/front man Kevin Cronin added. "In the Midwest we work hard, play hard, and rock hard. I am proud to join my brothers in Styx and Ted Nugent to celebrate Midwest Rock 'N' Roll and represent the greatest rock fans in the world. I am ready to climb aboard the 'Midwest Rock 'N' Roll Express!' Rock on baby!"
"It's gonna be a twang fest of screaming guitars and big, sing-along choruses that continue to be the soundtrack for the misbehavior of our collective fan base," Styx guitarist/singer Tommy Shaw said. "In other words, a real good time."
"The heart and soul of American R&B&R&R has always gushed forth from the heartland of America," Ted Nugent proclaimed. "REO, Styx and The Nuge have always celebrated the power of our special music and on the mighty 'Midwest Rock 'N' Roll Express,' the energy, attitude and spirit is more intense than ever. This is the soundtrack for the hardcore."
The summer tour begins in Texas on May 1 and wraps up in Gilford, New York on July 7. Ted Nugent will take the stage at 7 p.m. on all dates except where otherwise noted.
Tue 5/1 Hidalgo, TX State Farm Arena On-Sale 3/9
Thu 5/3 Albuquerque, NM Sandia Casino On-Sale 3/3
* Fri 5/4 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/10 (no Ted Nugent)
Sat 5/5 Las Vegas, NV Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino On-Sale 3/3
Sun 5/6 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre On-Sale TBA
Tue 5/8 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre On-Sale 2/25
Thu 5/10 Council Bluffs, IA Mid America Arena On-Sale 3/2
Fri 5/11 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/3
* Sat 5/12 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion On-Sale 3/10 (no Ted Nugent)
Sun 5/13 Corpus Christi, TX Concrete Street Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/3
Thu 5/17 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/10
Sat 5/19 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/10
Sun 5/20 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/2
Thu 6/21 Kansas City, MO Starlight Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/2
Fri 6/22 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre On-Sale 3/9
Sat 6/23 Ft. Knox, KY Godman Army Airfield On-Sale 4/14
Sun 6/24 Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion On-Sale 3/9
Tue 6/26 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Theatre On-Sale 3/10
Thu 6/28 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre On-Sale 3/3
Fri 6/29 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain On-Sale 3/2
Sat 6/30 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center On-Sale 3/3
Sun 7/1 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Event Ctr 3/3
Tue 7/3 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort Casino On-Sale 3/2
Thu 7/5 Uncasville, NJ Mohegan Sun Arena On-Sale 3/30
Fri 7/6 Big Flats, NY Summer Stage On-Sale 3/1
Sat 7/7 Gilford, NY Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion On-Sale 3/3
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