FASTWAY frontman TOBY JEPSON (ex-LITTLE ANGELS) has issued the following:

"Ok, so you wait for a bus and nothing arrives, you turn to leave and 3 arrive all at the same time! I know it is a tired cliché, but man alive!!!!..

Picture the scene; I was drowning my sorrows in crap telly and a bottle of beer when the phone goes (this was around 10pm on a non descript Monday night)

'Hello Toby this is Steve Strange…we met backstage at the Shepherds Bush Empire… I wondered if you wanted to join the new version of FASTWAY with fast Eddie Clarke, myself and John McManus????...'

Well let me tell you folks, I had the first Fastway record when I was a kid and in fact spent an entire summer listening to it whilst cleaning pool tables at Primrose Valley Holiday Village in Yorkshire… so it was a big blast from the past and an opportunity that I could not give up.

So I found myself on a train the next day heading for a meeting with the guys. I had met John Mc Manus years before when the Angels opened for MAMAS BOYS (John's band he played bass for that also featured his brothers Tommy on drums and Pat on guitar) and meeting him again after all those years was amazing as he didn't look any different and was still the sweet guy I had nervously spoken to at the shows.

Long story short; I joined the band the next weekend and commenced rehearsals for the up coming dates in Europe.

Working with Eddie has brought a new kind of gravity to my work. He exudes class and experience with every note he pours from his guitars. From the second I walked into the room with him and he turned it on, I was blown away with his maturity and passion for his music. It is one thing you cannot teach anyone: experience and he brings it in spades. I was delighted to learn that there are guys like me out there! Ed and I were cut from the same cloth and his company is a delight.

The same goes for both the other guys, Steve is not only a great drummer, but is also one of the worlds biggest Agents for bands like SNOW PATROL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and THE SCISSOR SISTERS, so his wealth of knowledge and sense of purpose is also brought to bare on the project. Steve specifically put this thing together and has not put a foot wrong, creating a great atmosphere for us all to work together. I respect him enormously and also consider him a close friend now. Johnny McManus also, all of the above. Another incredible guy who has made me feel welcome and has shown great respect for me as well as provided encouragement. I am blessed to be working with the guys and it does feel like a family.

A quick word about the previous singers (the original guy and the replacement)...

The original singer was a chap called Dave King; he remained in the band until it split and was responsible for all the early recordings and my, my, my, what vocals they were! I know I can sing high register in full voice but that guy is stratospheric! I was actually a little nervous about being able to pull it off at first, but after a few rehearsals managed to find my place within the material enough to be confident of doing the job.

Prior to me joining this version of the band another Irish lad, Harv Harbinson who fronts his own band STORMZONE was originally asked to take the vocal duties, but unfortunately scheduling didn't work for both parties and he had to bow out, but I will say this about him: he contacted me and offered his lyrics and any help he could and I salute him for that as it must have been tough for him to give up the job. Very cool.

Anyway, no point rambling on about the gigs we have done so far, suffice to say I am having a ball and beginning to rediscover the feeling of playing massive stages again as it has been a while…

Highlights? Well flying to Sweden in a private Jet, Download, meeting Ronnie Dio (like meeting God for me really - and a very sweet man) Finding out that Tim Wheeler and Mark from ASH were Angels fans and were in fact in our fan club! And along side Rick from the band are all top men who I now consider friends…

It has been a whirl wind and still promises so much more. I am having the time of my life, and having found this great new way in and having met such great people along the way, I am determined to carry on with the task of working my ass off to get back up there whether it is with Fastway, my own band or a combination of the two. Who said you should only have one string to the bow? I am over the moon at having the chance to string several on my metaphorical bow and fiddle till Rome burns or at least until my music takes me back into the place I once occupied all those years ago.

No point in looking back, I am focused on the future cause that is where we all belong, not gazing in to the past with rose tinted Raybans…

Toodle pip and see you on the ice!"

Jepson recently announced the schedule for his upcoming tour of the UK in September/October.

Dates include:

September

13 - Hotel California - Tranmere, Wirral, England
14 - The Pitz - Leadenhall, Milton Keynes, England
15 - Fibbers - Stonebow, York, England
16 - The Point - Cardiff Bay, England
20 - The Robin2 - Mount Pleasant Bilston, Wolverhampton, England
21 - The Corporation - Sheffield, England
22 - Rio's - Leeds, England
23 - Moses Gate - Farnworth, Bolton, England
25 - Bootleggers - Kendal, Cumbria, England
26 - PJ Molloys - Dunfermline, The Kingdom of Fife, England
28 - King Tuts - Glasgow, Scotland
29 - Doghouse - Dundee, Scotland
30 - Lemon Tree - Aberdeen, Scotland

October

3 - Bideford Palladium - Bideford, Devon, England
4 - The Diamond - Sutton In Ashfield, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England
5 - The Springhead - Willerby, Hull, England
7 - The Brook - Southampton, England
8 - Night Owl - Cheltenham, England
10 - Islington Academy - London, England

Visit www.tobyjepson.com for more details.