The 2013 edition of the annual ROCK MEETS CLASSIC European tour kicked off on February 18th in Berlin, Germany. Backing vocalist AMANDA SOMERVILLE (TRILLIUM, AVANTASIA) has issued the first in a series of her traditional tour updates:

"Greetings Somervillains and anyone who's a fan of music!

Thanks for joining the party; the more the merrier. :-) This is the start of the video blog series for the annual Rock Meets Classic tour (my fourth year in a row!) and this time we've got another great line-up with Paul Rodgers (FREE, BAD COMPANY), Bonnie Tyler, Eric Bazilian (THE HOOTERS), Steve Augeri (JOURNEY) and Chris Thompson (MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND).

Here we are starting out in a rehearsal hall in Wetzlar, Germany (near Frankfurt) and moving along to our first two shows in Berlin and Rostock. Hope you enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at our circus life as touring musicians - there's more to come!"

Rock Meets Classic also features PRIMAL FEAR bandmates Mat Sinner (bass/master of ceremonies), Alex Beyrodt (guitars), Ralf Scheepers (backing vocals) and Randy Black (drums) as part of THE MAT SINNER BAND. It also features Somerville (backing vocals), Avantasia's Oliver Hartmann (guitars), Jimmy Kresic (keyboards), Tiffany Kirkland (backing vocals), Kolinda Brozovic (backing vocals) and Sascha Krebs (´backing vocals).

Now into its fourth year, Rock Meets Classic showcases classic rock artists of the '70s and '80s performing their hits backed by a full-on rock band and an orchestra. Artists that have taken part in previous tours include Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE), Dan McCafferty (NAZARETH), Steve Lukather (TOTO), Lou Gramm (FOREIGNER), and Jimi Jamison (SURVIVOR).

Confirmed dates for the 2013 are as follows:

February

26 - Hof, Germany - Freiheitshalle
27 - Passau, Germany - Dreiländerhalle

March

1 - Prague, Czech Republic - Tipsport Arena
2 - Ingolstadt, Germany - Saturnarena
3 - Neu-Ulm, Germany - Ratiopharm Arena
5 - Landshut, Germany - Sparkassen-Arena
6 - München, Germany - Olympiahalle
8 - Mannheim, Germany - SAP-Arena
9 - Nürnberg, Germany - Arena
10 - Würzburg, Germany - S. Oliver Arena
11 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Saarlandhalle
13 - Stuttgart, Germany - Porsche Arena
15 - Kempten, Germany - Big Box
16 - Regensburg, Germany - Donauarena
17 - Zürich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion