Italy's SpazioRock has issued an interview with BLACK STONE CHERRY guitarist Ben Wells, in which he discusses the band's new album, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea. An excerpt follows:

Q: Would you like to talk about the new record Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea? Where does this title come from?

A: "It's a metaphor that was used on ships back years and years ago and it means being between two difficult situations. We picked this title because we took a year to write and record this album, it seemed like the whole time we were trying to please so many people at once. So everywhere we turned there was something else, another obstacle that we had to overcome. We thought it was a very fitting title always sure to make the album."

Q: This is the first album you recorded outside of Kentucky, isn't it?

A: "Yes, it is."

Q: Why and what has changed by comparison with the former albums?

A: "What's the difference in the album? We really just wanted to go somewhere. The producer of the album lives in California, his name is Howard Benson, he’s from Los Angeles. We wanted to go somewhere we would be out of our comfort zone a little bit and be able to focus on just making a great album. And not having many outside distractions. So was really good first of all Los Angeles to do that and… you know, I think it made the album very strong because it was us four in the band that were out there. We were out there just to make an album, nothing else, and I think it sounds that way. It sounds very determined."

Read the full interview at this location.

In live news, Black Stone Cherry is part of the Carnival Of Madness Tour, also featuring THEORY OF A DEADMAN, ALTER BRIDGE, ADELITAS WAY and EMPHATIC. The tour will tear through North America for 25+ dates, set to launch August 13th in Twin Lakes, WI.

August

13 - Twin Lakes, WI - Shadow Hill Ranch
14 - Chillicothe, IL - Three Sisters Park
16 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
17 - Indianapolis, IN - The Lawn at White River State Park
19 - Council Bluffs, IA - Harrah’s Casino
20 - Sedalia, MO - Missouri State Fairgrounds (no Black Stone Cherry)
23 - Fargo, ND - The Hub (outdoors)
24 - Sioux Falls, SD - Sioux Falls Arena
26 - Louisville, KY - KY State Fair/Cardinal Stadium
27 - Waterloo, IA - McElroy Auditorium (outdoors)
28 - St. Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair
31 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center

September

1 - Allentown, PA - The Great Allentown Fair
3 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino
4 - Bangor, ME - Bangor Waterfront
5 - Fitchburg, MA - Central Mass Expo Center
7 - Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Concert Pavilion
9 - Big Flats, NY - Tag’s Summer Stage
10 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
11 - Huntington, WV - Harris Riverfront Park
13 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Uptown Amp.
14 - Fayetteville, NC - Crown Coliseum
16 - Tulsa, OK - Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino
17 - Poplar Bluff, MS - Black River Coliseum
18 - Dayton, OH - Montgomery County Fairgrounds