RIOT has parted ways with singer Mike DiMeo (also THE LIZARDS) who recently replaced Jorn Lande as the singer of MASTERPLAN. His statement reads as follows:: "In response to all the mail I have been receiving about my status with Riot I have had many great years with the band, and I am tremendously proud of all the work I have done with them, especially Army of One, but at this point in my life and career, I prefer to forge ahead with a new path musically. I look forward to a new creative beginning with Masterplan, who are an incredibly talented and motivated group of guys!! I wish Riot the best of luck in the future and will always consider them brothers......thank you."

As previously reported, Masterplan will be supporting SAXON on their European tour starting on February 28th. Masterplan's complete tour schedule is now as follows:

February

23 - Bremen, Germany at Aladin (with MOB RULES)
26 - Hamburg, Headbangers Ballroom (with Mob Rules)
28 - Glasgow, UK at Garage **

March

2 - Belfast, UK at Spring & Airbrake **
3 - Dublin, Ireland at Temple Bar Music Centre **
4 - Manchaster, UK at Academy 2 **
6 - Wolverhampton, UK at Civic Hall *
7 - Nottingham, UK at Rock City *
8 - Cardiff, UK at Coal Exchange *
9 - London, UK at Astoria **
10 - Antwerpen, Belgium at Hof Ter Lo **
11 - Amsterdam, Netherlands at Paradiso **
13 - Köln, Germany at Live Music Hall *
14 - Oberhausen, Germany at Turbinenhalle *
15 - Hamburg, Germany at Markthalle **
16 - Berlin, Germany at Huxleys Neue Welt *
17 - Leipzig, Germany at Werk 2 *
18 - Lichtenfels, Germany at Stadthalle *
20 - Stuttgart, Germany at Longhorn/LKA **
21 - Pratteln, Switzerland at Z7 **
22 - Toulouse, France at Havana Cafe **
23 - Madrid, Spain at Macumba **
24 - Bergara, Spain at Sala Jam **
25 - Barcelona, Spain at Razzmatazz **
26 - Santiago, Spain at Capitol **
27 - Porto, Portugal at Hard Club **
29 - Lyon, France at Transbordeur **
30 - Paris, France at Elysee Montmartre **

April

12 - Saarbrücken, Germany at Garage **
13 - Langen, Germany at Stadthalle **
14 - München, Germany at Große Elser Halle **
15 - Mailand, Italy at Alcatraz **
16 - Firenze, Italy at Viper **
17 - Rome, Italy at Alpheus **
20 - Athens, Greece at Gagarin 205 **
21 - Thessaloniki, Greece at Ydrogeios **
23 - Bucharest, Romania at Preoteasa **
24 - Beograd, Serbia at SKC **
25 - Zagreb, Croatia at Boogaloo Club **
26 - Budapest, Hungary Petofi Hall **
27 - Wien, Austria at Planet Music **
28 - Zlin, Czech Republic at Hala Novesta **
29 - Krakow, Poland at Club Studio **
30 - Warszawa, Poland at Stodola **

May

2 - Vilnius, Lithuania at PHC **
3 - Tallinn, Estonia at Rock Cafe **
4 - St. Petersburg, Rusia at DS Jubileiny **
5 - Helsinki, Finland at Tavastia **
6 - Oulu, Finland at Teatria **
8 - Stockholm, Sweden at Arenan **
9 - Oslo, Norway at Rockefeller **
10 - Göteborg, Sweden atTrädgarn **
11 - Malmö, Sweden atKB **
12 - Osnabrück, Germany Halle Gartlage **
13 - Hardenberg, Holland at Podium **

* Masterplan, Rose Tattoo and guest

** Masterplan and guest

Masterplan will issue a new EP entitled Lost And Gone through AFM Records on January 26th. The EP will be the band's first release with their new line-up featuring Mike DiMeo (RIOT/vocals), Roland Grapow (guitars), Mike Terrana (ex-RAGE/drums), Jan S. Eckert (bass) and Axel Mackenrott (keyboards). Their fulll length studio album will be released in February; a concrete date is expected to be revealed soon.

(Thanks Melodicrock.com)