MICHAEL MONROE Welcomes New Guitarist; DREGEN To Focus On Solo Career
March 6, 2014, 10 years ago
DREGEN's solo band will appear as MICHAEL MONROE’s opening act on their gigs in Finland at Pakkahuone (Tampere), Tavastia-klubi (Helsinki), Kaivohuone (Naantali) and M/S Viking Grace in April and May. After the Finnish shows, the Swedish guitarist, best known for playing with Michael Monroe, BACKYARD BABIES and THE HELLACOPTERS will continue to focus on his solo career.
”It's been three amazing years in the Michael Monroe band and I've been enjoying every second of it! I'm gonna miss this band so much, but it's time for me to focus on my solo career and future Backyard Babies albums. I hope that I contributed positive energy, great live shows, riffs, dirt, and songs on Horns And Halos that gave Michael Monroe one extra dimension after Sensory Overdrive. This band is so good so they'll be fine without me,” says Dregen and continues: “I’ll be supporting Michael Monroe with my solo band in April and May. What a great package! What a great show! What a great ending!”
“Dregen and his band opening up for Michael Monroe is a nice send-off and a special treat for the fans,” added Michael Monroe.
Dregen has played guitar in Michael Monroe’s live band since the summer of 2011, and he also played on the band’s latest album, Horns And Halos. Replacing him is British guitarist Rich Jones (THE GINGER WILDHEART BAND, THE BLACK HALOS), who first appeared with the band on their album release tour last fall.
”Luckily Rich, who has done an excellent job as Dregen's substitute, has gelled into the band's chemistry so well that the rest of the band welcomes him with open arms as a permanent member. And so the saga continues,” says Michael Monroe.
Between the upcoming gigs and the summer festivals in Finland, Michael Monroe will also be playing in Italy and Spain.
Michael Monroe with special guest Dregen:
April
25 - Tampere, Finland - Pakkahuone (K-18)26 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia (no age limit, doors at 2 PM)
26 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia (K-18, doors at 8 PM)
30 - Naantali, Finland - Naantalin Kaivohuone (K-18)
May
2 - Turku-Tukholma, Finland - M/S Viking Grace