CINDERELLA frontman TOM KEIFER will release his first solo album, The Way Life Goes, on April 30th. But it's been in the making for nearly 18 years, as he tells Billboard's Gary Graff.

Keifer, who now resides in Nashville, admits he got the idea for a solo album "in the mid-90s, when the band broke up after we were politely asked to leave our record company during all those shifts in music trends during the '90s. I started thinking about the record then, but it got put on the back burner" as Keifer dealt with vocal problems (paralysis of his left vocal cord that requires continuing treatment) and Cinderella ultimately regrouped as a touring entity. "I finally got back around to it in 2003," he adds, "and by then I had this big pile of songs and just started recording tracks."

Keifer says he did everything on his own " 'cause I didn't want anybody breathing down my neck. I wanted to take the time and get it to where I wanted to. The idea from the beginning was when it's done, it's done and then I'd shop the finished product. I didn't think it was going to take 10 years, but every record has its path. There were a variety of things that took me away from it and brought me back, and I think that provided some objectivity. It was kind of a piecemeal labor of love process, but it worked."

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Keifer will be the featured guest on US nationally syndicated radio show Rockline with host Bob Coburn on May 1st at 8:30pm PT/11:30pm ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with Tom toll free at 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). For more information on finding a station near you and for information regarding how to log onto the internet broadcast go to Rocklineradio.com. The show will be streamed on the Rockline website for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.

Catch Tom Keifer live at the following shows:

May

2 - Canyon Club - Agoura Hills, CA
3 - The Marquee - Tempe, AZ
4 - House Of Blues - Anaheim, CA
9 - Trees - Dallas, TX
10 - Concert Pub North - Houston, TX
11 - Backstage Live - San Antonio, TX
13 - KXDG Spring Fling - Joplin, MO
16 - Revolution Music Room - Little Rock, AR
17 - Live Oaks Bar & Ballroom - Monroe, LA
18 - The Station - Broussard, LA
22 - 37 Main - Buford, GA