As previously announced, TESLA will launch a summer US headlining tour starting June 7th in Santa Rosa, CA at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in support of their Real To Reel album, which is due out June 5 on the band’s Tesla Electric Company Recordings (Ryko Distribution). This marks the 20th consecutive year that Tesla has toured the States.

Before the tour officially kicks off, Tesla will make a special hometown appearance at Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento, CA on May 31st at 7:00 PM (PT) in front an expected crowd of 8,000. Not only will the show, sponsored by KXRQ-FM (98 Rock) and the Hard Rock Café, be FREE, but everyone in attendance will get a special pre-release sneak peek at Real To Reel. The one-hour performance will exclusively spotlight songs from Reel 1 of the two-disc set, which will be sold that day at the new R5 store founded by Russ Solomon, the man behind the now defunct Tower Records chain. Immediately following the concert, the Hard Rock Café will sponsor a listening party with the band who’ll be autographing copies of the album which will be available for sale at the event by R5.

The first 13 tracks Real To Reel - Reel 1 - will be available on June 5th at retail outlets, while the second disc - Reel 2 - containing the remaining 12 songs will be available along the band’s tour route with the purchase of a concert ticket. An empty space will exist within Reel 1’s packaging for Reel 2.

Fans wanting bonus material should head to their local Best Buy, where a limited edition package will be sold including 'War Pigs' from Reel ” as well as a sneak preview of three of the band’s first-ever unplugged studio recordings of 'Modern Day Cowboy', 'Paradise' and 'Shine Awa'” - the last recordings with guitarist Tommy Skeoch in 2005 - which will appear on Tesla’s forthcoming 20th anniversary boxed set. Details about the boxed set will be announced soon.

On release day - declared “Tesla Tuesdsay”, - the band will be celebrating Real To Reel with a day’s worth of listening parties, events and appearances in Phoenix, AZ. Early that morning, the band will perform 'Thank You' on Good Morning Arizona (FOX), followed by a four-hour stint as guest DJs at KDKB-FM (93.3), where Tesla will take over the live radio airwaves from 10 AM - 2 PM playing songs from the album, chatting with fans who call in and giving away tickets to their concert in Phoenix on June 12th at the Dodge Theatre. Once that’s complete, Tesla head to Best Buy (2727 W. Thunderbird Rd.) for an in-store performance at 4 PM. The day will conclude with a listening party at Martini Ranch sponsored by KDKB-FM, Zia Records and Live Nation. While the event is free, fans must be 21 and over to attend. Tesla will be mixing and mingling with fans, playing songs from both Reel 1 and Reel 2, and autographing copies of the album which will be available for sale at the event courtesy of Zia Records.

Tesla first tested out some of their favorite rock classics with their fans in the summer of 2006 during the Electric Summer Jam tour (the first tour with guitarist Dave Rude, who replaced original guitarist Tommy Skeoch). While UFO’s 'Rock Bottom' went down like a storm to a standing, cheering, grandstand crowd of 10,000 in Milwaukee, BLACK SABBATH’s 'War Pigs' engaged 6,000 people in Lansing, Michigan so much that they refused to leave during a torrential rainstorm which lasted throughout the entire two-hour show. After getting such a positive reaction from their fans, the band knew making Real To Reel was a logical next step for them.

What can fans expect this time around at a live Tesla show?

“They’ll be hearing a lot of Real To Reel along with the hits they know and love,” says singer Jeff Keith. “We’re excited to play the new songs especially, because we had so much fun recording them. We tested some of them out last summer and people seemed to really like them. Now that we have the 25 songs in our heads, we can’t wait to get out there and bring them all to life. And in addition to the Tesla hits, we’ll be bringing some older songs out of the archives that we rarely play live. We’re looking forward to playing Real To Reel with lots of feel.”

Meanwhile, Tesla will be the featured guest on the nationally syndicated radio show Rockline on Wednesday, June 6th at 8:30 PM (PT)/11:30 PM (ET). They’ll chat with host Bob Coburn about Real To Reel, the US tour and everything else happening in their world. The band will also be performing a few songs (some from the new album and some Tesla classics), and fans will have the opportunity to call in with questions for the duo at 800-344-ROCK (7625). For local listings, fans should check out www.rocklineradio.com .

In further radio news, lead singer Jeff Keith will appear on The Adam Carolla Show on Monday, June 4th at 9:00 AM (PT). The program can be heard throughout the west coast on the Free FM radio network. Fans should check http://adam.freefm.com/ for local listings and can call in to 866-901-ADAM (2326) to talk with Jeff.

Fans can get up-to-the-minute tour details and purchase VIP ticket packages at the band’s website, www.teslarealtoreel.com.

Here are the confirmed tour dates with stops in Chicago, Boston, New York, Baltimore, San Francisco and many other cities to be added in the coming weeks:

May

31 - Sacramento, CA - Cesar Chavez Park

June

7 - Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
8 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
9 - West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
11 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
12 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
14 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
15 - Salt Lake City, UT - Great Saltair
17 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiba Auditorium
18 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
19 - Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
21 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
22 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
23 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
28 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
29 - Helmond, Netherlands - Plato
30 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Arrow Rock Festival

July

6 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
7 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock
11 - Walker, MN - Moondance Jam
13 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave/Eagles Club
18 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
20 - Fond du Lac, WI - Fond du Lac County Fair