The management for JEFF SCOTT SOTO (ex-TALISMAN, JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) has issued the following update:

We are pleased to announce the first leg of the JSS Beautiful Mess World Tour 2009 beginning April 1st in Europe. The tour will then take its course then through South America as well as select dates in North America with stops appearing on a few of the big festivals this summer.

Part 2 of the big announcement is an all new JSS line-up.

"I am truly introducing my new sound and album with a select pick of musicians I know will add the dynamic the music calls for” says Jeff. “I thank my regular cast of bandits, Howie Simon/Gary Schutt/Dave Dzialak, for being there with me so many years and will keep them in place for the classic Jeff Scott Soto show needs if/when they come up. But the new guys seem to fit where I am heading now."

On lead guitar is Jorge Salan, the young-blood hotshot from Madrid, Spain who Jeff met through his many tours through Spain. Jeff even contributed vocals on one track for Jorge’s 2007 solo album Chronicles Of An Evolution in which Jeff first discovered this fresh new talent.

Brought along on bass from Jorge’s solo band is Fernando Mainer who has played with a popular Spanish band TAKO along with many others from his native land.

New drummer, Edu Cominato, hails from Sao Paulo ,Brazil. Edu has toured as Jeff’s drummer throughout Brazil as well as his own band, TEMPESTT, where they shared stages throughout Europe on a JSS introduced/guest tour for Tempestt back in 2008.

And in addition to the line-up is a fifth member for the 1st time simply named BJ, also from the band Tempestt, will serve as second guitarist/keyboardist for the new band.

More news to report, JSS will shoot a new, full headline show for DVD in Madrid on April 18th, with Jorge’s solo band as support for the show. Jorge too will be shooting a live DVD in which Jeff will guest on the number, No Salvation, which he sang on ‘Chronicles…’. This will be the 1st full live show on DVD as the only other live DVD from the Gods show in 2002 was a limited setlist. An update about the Firefest show/DVD: it has been decided it will NOT be released as there was a conflict of interest between the parties involved. JSS regrets any disappointment from those looking forward to it.

The new show will consist primarily of JSS solo material with the blend of expected numbers from Jeff’s past. “I am having a blast creating the new setlist as now I have four solo albums under my belt & familiar material for days to have fun with live. But I won’t forget the numbers that make everyone stand up and shout!"

RushonRock.com spoke to Soto recently about a number of topics. For the full interview click here.