A younger generation will have the chance to experience some of classic rock’s greatest hits live if Rick Bowen has his way. Mystical Orchestra, a rock symphony in the same vein as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, has unveiled plans for the Flashback: The Classic Rock Experience Tour. The trek, created by Bowen, will feature symphonic versions of the rock songs that defined the 1960s and ’70s.The 50-date experience begins tomorrow, August 27, in Mobile, AL, and continues through November 16 in Miami, FL.
“The intention is to present the music like it’s never been presented before,” Bowen said in a statement on the tour’s official Web site. “I wanted to do it even better than done originally.”
Each night’s performance will last nearly three hours and consist of two sets. The first set covers classic rock anthems and hits, such as “Smoke on the Water” by Purple Haze, and Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild.” The band will also perform multiple songs by classic rock heavy-hitters The Doors, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.
The second set of the show is dedicated entirely to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, two of the classic rock era’s iconic bands. Mystical Orchestra will perform some of the most recognizable hits, including Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” and — of course — Zeppelin’s epic “Stairway to Heaven.”
Bowen noted in the statement, “If we do our job right, this re-creation will be a night to remember, a concert event and experience for multiple generations, as we tour the nation.”
Mystical Orchestra features a 14-person band of musicians and singers, as well as an 11-piece orchestra. In addition to the musical experience, enhanced by two large screens and a 225,000-watt surround sound system, each night will feature a laser light show and pyrotechnics. Billboard.com placed the staging price of the production at almost $5.5 million. Bowen stated the average ticket price would be less than $40.
A second leg of the tour is in the works for February 2009.
Flashback: The Classic Rock Experience itinerary:
(Dates subject to change.)
| August 27 | Mobile, AL | Civic Center |
| August 29 | Tampa, FL | St. Pete Times Forum |
| August 30 | Orlando, FL | Amway Arena |
| August 31 | Ft. Lauderdale / Sunrise, FL | Bank Atlantic Center |
| September 1 | Jacksonville, FL | Veterans Mem Arena |
| September 4 | Savannah, GA | Savannah Civic Center |
| September 5 | Charleston, SC | N Chas. Coliseum |
| September 6 | Columbia, SC | Colonial Center |
| September 7 | Greenville, SC | Bilo Center |
| September 10 | Atlanta, GA | Gwinett Center |
| September 11 | Asheville, NC | Asheville Civic Center |
| September 12 | Charlotte, NC | Cricket Arena |
| September 13 | Raleigh, NC | RBC Center Arena |
| September 14 | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke Civic Center |
| September 18 | Hampton, VA | Hampton Roads Coliseum |
| September 19 | Richmond, VA | Richmond Coliseum |
| September 20 | Baltimore, MD | 1st. Mariner Arena |
| September 21 | Newark, NJ | Prudential Center |
| September 26 | Philadelphia, PA | Wachovia Center/Or Spectrum |
| September 27 | New York, NY | NY Nassau Coliseum |
| September 28 | Albany, NY | Times Union Center |
| October 1 | Rochester, NY | Blue Cross Arena |
| October 3 | Hartford, CT | Civic Center |
| October 4 | Syracuse, NY | War Memorial at Oncenter |
| October 5 | Providence, RI | Dunkin Donuts Center |
| October 8 | Worcester, MA | DCU Center |
| October 9 | Manchester, NH | Verizon Wireless Arena |
| October 10 | Fairfax, VA / Washington, D.C. | Patriot Center |
| October 11 | Atlantic City, NJ | Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall |
| October 12 | Wilkes Barre, PA | Wachovia Arena At Casey Plaza |
| October 16 | Hershey, PA | Giant Center |
| October 17 | Toledo, OH | Seagate Convention Centre |
| October 18 | Cleveland, OH | Wolstein Center |
| October 19 | Pittsburgh, PA | Mellon Arena |
| October 22 | Youngstown, OH | Chevrolet Center |
| October 23 | Dayton, OH | Ervin J. Nutter Center |
| October 24 | Lexington, KY | Rupp Arena |
| October 25 | Cincinnati, OH | Bank of Kentucky Arena |
| October 26 | Columbus, OH | Nationwide Arena |
| October 29 | Nashville, TN | Sommet Center |
| October 30 | Memphis, TN | Fedex Forum |
| October 31 | Bossier City-Shreveport, LA | TBA |
| November 1 | Austin, TX | Frank Erwin Center UT |
| November 2 | Dallas/Grand Prairie, TX | Nokia Theater |
| November 6 | Houston, TX | Toyota Center or Woodlands Tent |
| November 7 | New Orleans, LA | New Orleans Arena |
| November 8 | Little Rock, AK | Alltel Arena |
| November 9 | Birmingham, AL | BJCC Concert Hall |
| November 12 | Estero, FL | Germain Arena |
| November 13 | Gainesville, FL | Stephen C. O’Connell Center |
| November 15 | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland Center |
| November 16 | Miami, FL | Miami Arena |
