Date: Fri 19-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Maiden-WASP-Tydes-Sippin

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

MIND TYDES has two new shows and a spot on the Internet.

The band will be at Classic Rock Brew Pub in Danbury this weekend, playing a

10 pm show Saturday night. Next week, the guys will be opening for SEBASTIAN

BACH when the former lead singer of Skid Row plays at Tuxedo Junction on June

29. Mind Tydes will be on the stage around 9 pm for that show.

If you'd like to hear any -- or all! -- of the band's self-titled CD, check

out its new Web page: www.essey.com/mind_tydes.html.

Word this week that BLUE OYSTER CULT is continuing to tour through the summer

to support its latest release, called Heaven Forbid . This release is the

band's first in ten years, and the first for CMC International Records. BOC

will be at Sports Rock USA in Bristol on Saturday, July 11. That's also my

Mom's birthday.

Joining the core line-up of Eric Bloom (vocals), Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser

(guitar) and Allen Lanier (guitar) are Danny Miranda (bass) and Bobby

Rondinelli (drums).

Also on the road this summer, with its full production stage show for the

first time in North America in over three years, is IRON MAIDEN. One of the

premiere metal bands of the past two decades, the group is touring this summer

in support of its latest release, Virtual XI . The band has just completed a

24-date sold-out tour of Europe. Their return to the States will also include

the return of Eddie.

I had a friend who, when he left for college freshman year, had one of those

door-size posters of Eddie. He put it on the outside of his dorm room door and

it scared the bejeezus out of most of the people who walked past it -- a

door-size Eddie is not something one expects (or wants...) to find in the

middle of a narrow hallway.

Iron Maiden's North American tour begins June 26 in Chicago. After making its

way towards the West Coast, the band takes a huge hop to the East, landing in

Connecticut on August 1, when it will be at the Webster Theatre in Hartford.

The "Virtual IX/Metal Mania" tour will feature special guests WASP and Dirty

Deeds. (DIO also appears on the tour, but only as far as the July 19 San

Francisco date.) WASP is touring these days to support its two-CD live album

Double Live Assassins . Dirty Deeds is the first act signed to Iron Maiden

bassist Steve Harris' Beast Records. Deeds' debut album, Danger of Infection ,

will be released later this month, to coincide with the summer tour.

Here's something pretty cool happening to a local gal who's been paying her

dues for a few years (I watched Coal Miner's Daughter on TV Sunday night and

picked up that "paying your dues" phrase there...). MARY BETH SIPPIN, along

with her band THE DIAMOND SPURS, will be kicking off a new summer schedule of

performances this weekend. Mary Beth & The Diamond Spurs are part of the

Country 92.5 FM American MusicFest at The Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford on

June 20~!

Mary Beth and her band will be opening for some of the hottest country acts in

the business today, including PATTY LOVELESS, JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY and TYE

HERNDON, to name a few. For ticket information, call the Meadows box office,

860/548-7370.

Later this summer, Mary Beth & The Diamond Spurs will be performing at the

Trumbull Day Festival, on Saturday, June 27, at 1 pm. The group will also be

at this year's Bridgewater Fair, performing an opening night set on Friday,

August 21, at 6 pm.

And speaking of Loretta Lynn and all things county, what on Earth are The

Smashing Pumpkins doing going on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry??!

Until next week, I'll be seeing you... on the road.