LA-based Canadian drummer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Shane Gaalaas (B'z, Cosmosquad, Diesel Machine) has set a May 20th release date for his forthcoming digital single, "Tales From A Fantastic Lumbar", which will coincide with an 11-date drum clinic tour of Japan set to kick off May 22th.

Teaser:

"Tales From A Fantastic Lumbar" sees Gaalaas re-team with keyboardist/songwriter Peter Fernandes and noted bassist Ric Fierabracci (Cosmosquad, Planet X) who had previously collaborated with guitar virtuoso Greg Howe on the one-off "Dorothy" in 2012.

Says Gaalaas: "The cut we did with Greg a couple of years ago was a lot of fun so Peter and I talked about collaborating on some music. He's got all this heavy jazz musicality but with this uncanny melodic sensibility. So we started to send each other ideas and this one thing he had sent me really grabbed me. It was great by itself but I heard all this stuff I wanted to try with it and he just let me run with it. I think initially he was horrified, ‘what's with the Black Sabbath?!’ Anyhow, we just went back and forth writing bits and arranging. Given that we're on different coasts and come from pretty different backgrounds, it could have been like pulling teeth. But in the end, it was such a creative and gratifying experience. Ric Fierabracci also lends his ridiculousness on the bass and gave me some insight as to what to play over some of the changes. Initially, I was gonna get one of my guitar player bros to blow on it but I just got this killer Strat and was dusting off some old Yngwie (Malmsteen) chops. Anyway, I just ended up playing all the guitars and had a blast!"

Staying busy on the recording front, Gaalaas recently laid down drum tracks for both B'z vocalist Koshi Inaba and guitarist Tak Matsumoto's latest solo endeavors. He cut the song "Rain" off Matsumoto's just released New Horizon album and is the drummer on Inaba's Singing Bird album, due out May 21st, which includes the video singles "Nensho" and “Stay Free”.

For more info visit ShaneGaalaas.com.