Former RATT singer and Bastards Of Metal Tour founder/director Stephen Pearcy sent the following to BW&BK;:

"The inital idea and concept for the Bastards Of Metal Tour will not change. I want to start small with a lot of bang for the buck with familiar hard rock-metal and an original new band.

What I do expect to change are the Bastards singers and artists from gold-platinum plus bands, not the word of agent(s) for said artists after confirmation at an important stage.

Kevin (DuBrow) and Steven (Adler's) agent for the first round wanted to change the persective of what the Bastards Tour is all about before we had a date on paper, only on the table. There are plenty of Bastards who we would have entertained more aggressively for the first round. This is not the Ozzfest yet, step up or get the fu*k out of the way! It's not about ego, double agents, marquee space, or selling yourself for pennies to the dollar just to gig. I have patience and that's what's going to give the Bastards Tour its foundation and longevity. So already we (Top Fuel Tours) have an idea of what we might be dealing with or were dealing with. Commitment from management or agent doesn't mean artists.

The Bastards Of Metal Tour will have DROP, a new signed band out of Chicago opening the first round/leg as reported.

If some of these '80s-'90s artists (Bastards) we've approached the last six months had the drive and dream as a new band trying to break today, you might see better, bigger hard rock heavy metal shows and profit for promoter(s) and artists. Instead you have agents and artists thinking their past is still reallity. If you're lucky enough to be classic rock you work with what you have, not had. We want Bastards on the tour, not bitches.

New artists to be anounced soon!"

The first round/leg of The Bastards Of Metal Tour will span 24 shows throughout July and August.