One of the most legendary bands of all time in rock music, The Steve Miller Band, releases on 21 June a new album 'Bingo!" (on the Roadrunner/Loud&Proud label) and For the first time since 1982, they are touring Europe for eight concerts only, including the only one in Italy, organised by Barley Arts, on 12 October 2010 at Milan's Teatro Smeraldo. With over 30 million records sold in a career spanning more than 40 years, the Steve Miller Band with its distinctive rock-blues sound is a constant reference point for classic rock fans. And in the US, the band's extraordinary live shows have become an annual must-see for millions of fans.
Co-produced by Miller, in collaboration with Andy Johns (formerly with Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix), "Bingo!" is the first of two albums taken from sessions held at Skywalker Ranch, the historic production studio of George Lucas. The recordings benefited from a new collaborator, Sonny Charles, the historic voice of rhythm'n'blues. However, they were also the swan song for Miller's 'harmony brother', Norton Buffalo, for 33 years harmonica and vocals in the band, who passed away in 2009.
"Bingo!" represents a kind of stylistic throwback to the years between 1964 and 1966, when Miller was taking his first steps in the Chicago blues scene, shared with Goldberg, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and the Siegel-Schwall Band. Today, as then, Steve Miller has managed to transform some rhythm and blues classics by Jimmie Vaughan, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker and others into majestic rock performances. Some tracks are enhanced by the Latin flavour of percussion by Michael Carabello, a founding member of Santana's band, and drum ace Adrian Areas. While in 'Rock Me Baby' and 'Sweet Soul Vibe' Miller alternates his own guitar solos with the equally grandiose ones of Joe Satriani.
The first single from the album, released in a digipack version with 10 songs and in a special edition with four extra tracks and other benefits, is "Hey Yeah" written by Jimmie Vaughan and already listening on the site stevemillerband.com. The album cover is the work of another true artist: it is Storm Thorgersonwhose work for Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd albums are graphic masterpieces. For all intents and purposes, 'Bingo!' is the album Steve Miller has been waiting to make all his life.
Currently touring the US with a new show designed by Rob Roth, esteemed Broadway director ('Beauty and the Beast'), next October The Steve Miller Band will make its first appearance in Europe in over 25 years and will play only 8 concerts, debuting on 7 October in London and concluding on the 18th in Amsterdam, a rare opportunity to attend a show destined to become a legend.
Tickets for the 12 October concert at Milan's Teatro Smeraldo are on sale from 28 April on the Ticketone circuit and thus in the Barley Arts regular pre-sales (info 02 76003055 and barleyarts.com)
THE STEVE MILLER BAND TUESDAY 12 OCTOBER MILAN, EMERALD THEATRE 9 p.m.
Poltronissima € 100; Armchair: € 80; Balcony: € 65; Side Gallery: € 55; Side Gallery € 45; all + prev
The Steve Miller Band - Euroepan Tour Dates October 2010:
7 - London, England - Royal Albert Hall
8 - Manchester, England - Apollo
10 - Antwerp, Belgium - Lotto Arena
12 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Smeraldo
14 - Paris, France - Zenith
15 - Dusseldorf, Germany - Philipshalle
16 - Hamburg, Germany - CCH1
18 - Amsterdam, Holland - HM
