The Audio Perv

The first annual Avalanche Tour brings together some of the biggest names in rock for a massive North American winter trek. This year’s tour runs from March 24-May 8 and features Stone Sour, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet, Halestorm and Art Of Dying. Tickets for most shows go on sale Saturday, February 5. A special fan club pre-sale will begin Tuesday, February 1 through Artist Arena. Visit www.AvalancheTour.com for more details.

Three-time Grammy nominees Stone Sour entered the Billboard 200 chart at #6 with 2010’s Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner Records), featuring the Active Rock singles “Say You’ll Haunt Me,” which was #1 at Active Rock for 8 weeks, and “Hesitate.” Audio Secrecy marks the group’s third studio release and follows their gold-certified Come What(ever) May album, which debuted at #4. The quintet–vocalist Corey Taylor, guitarists James Root and Josh Rand, bassist Shawn Economaki and drummer Roy Mayorga–have returned with a broadened range, a deepened perspective and the determination to make new album Audio Secrecy a multi-layered record free of stylistic limitations. Stone Sour recorded Audio Secrecy with Come What(ever) May producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Deftones) at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios. “SO stoked to be a part of the Avalanche Tour!” Taylor exclaims. “We’ve been looking for the right tour to headline and this is definitely it. We’re already working on an amazing show, the kind we have NEVER done before. We’re gonna rip these stages to shreds and leave the audience with crazy eyes and sore throats! Here we go!!”

Vancouver trio Theory of a Deadman is touring in support of Scars & Souvenirs, which has sold over 900,000 copies and is rapidly approaching platinum status. The album features the #1 Mainstream Rock track “Bad Girlfriend.” Scars & Souvenirs (604/Roadrunner Records) is a broad-reaching endeavor that puts lead vocalist/guitarist Tyler Connolly, guitarist Dave Brenner and bassist Dean Back high in the rock pantheon, achieving creative growth without sacrificing the hard-hitting power that got them here in the first place. The disc was produced by Grammy-nominated Howard Benson and is the polished and passionate testament to seven years of hard work, heavy touring and diligent attention to craft. Theory of a Deadman will release a new album this summer as well. “After almost a year off writing and recording our new record, we’re so pumped to be back on the road playing for our fans!” says Connolly. “Along with some great bands and some great friends it’s gonna be a ‘not to be missed’ tour for sure. Who knows, maybe we’ll pull out a new song or two for the crowds.”

Rounding out the Avalanche lineup, Atlantic rockers Skillet are currently enjoying the success of their latest studio effort Awake. Certified Gold by the RIAA, Awake hit the ground running with a blockbuster debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and also entered at No. 1 on iTunes’ “Top Albums” chart and “Top Rock” chart. The accolades have continued to pile up for the two-time Grammy-nominated rockers as Awake was recently named Billboard’s #9 Top Alternative Album and #14 Top Rock Album of 2010, while the group landed at # 7 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Album Artist chart. Awake has already seen three Active Rock smashes including “Monster,” “Hero,” which was used by the NFL in their Sunday Night Football and NFL Weekend Kickoff promos, and their latest hit and crowd favorite “Awake & Alive.” Like true road warriors, Skillet’s relentless tour schedule has not slowed down. As the group’s cumulative sales approach two million, they continue to build upon their powerful live show, bringing down the house from coast to coast. For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.skillet.com or www.facebook.com/skillet.

Atlantic Records band Halestorm scored a Top 5 debut on SoundScan’s “Hard Music” chart with Halestorm in 2009, simultaneously exploding into the Top 40 on the comprehensive Billboard 200. Produced by Howard Benson (Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, Flyleaf), the album is a volatile collection of infectious hard rock anthems, sexy hooks, and rough and tumble grooves. Last fall, Halestorm released Live In Philly 2010, a live CD/DVD recorded and filmed last April at the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia, PA. “Bet U Wish U Had Me Back,” the band’s current single, hit rock radio at the end of last year and is currently Top 40 on the Active Rock chart. Formed by Lzzy Hale and her brother, drummer Arejay, when they were just 13 and 10 years old (respectively), Halestorm has made its bones as a major league hard rock outfit via countless North American gigs alongside such like-minded artists as Shinedown, Seether, Flyleaf, and Trapt. For up-to-the-minute news and tour information, visit Halestorm at www.halestormrocks.com, www.myspace.com/halestorm, and www.twitter.com/halestormrocks.

Art Of Dying is a five-piece rock band fronted by Jonny Hetherington. The Vancouver, Canada based group is the newest signing to Reprise Records/Intoxication Records, the label started by David Draiman and Dan Donegan of the multi-platinum selling band Disturbed. Art of Dying has completed recording in Los Angeles with producer Howard Benson for their 2011 worldwide debut, and they are thrilled to now be part of the Warner family. The band has built a dedicated international following since 2006 touring with Disturbed and Seether, as well as performing at international festivals Download and The Virgin Festival alongside artists such as Tool, Metallica and 3 Doors Down. Fans around the world have connected with the song “Get Through This,” a true story of struggle and hope, which has led to a heavy following online, where Art Of Dying has topped the independent charts and developed a loyal fan base.

The current Avalanche tour dates are as follows. Look for additional shows to be announced soon.

Date City Venue
Thur 3/24 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
Fri 3/25 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom
Sat 3/26 St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Mon 3/28 Bloomington, IL US Cellular Coliseum
Tue 3/29 Fort Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Fri 4/1 Atlanta, GA Masquerade Music Park
Sat 4/2 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Sun 4/3 Ladson, SC Ladson Fairground
Fri 4/8 San Antonio, TX Illusion Theater at Alamodome
Sat 4/9 Corpus Christi, TX Concrete Street Amphitheater
Sun 4/10 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Tue 4/12 Houston, TX Reliant Arena
Wed 4/13 Wichita Falls, TX Kay Yeager Coliseum
Fri 4/15 Belton, TX Bell County Expo Center
Sat 4/16 Lubbock, TX LoneStar Amphitheater
Sun 4/17 El Paso, TX El Paso County Coliseum
Tue 4/19 Tulsa, OK Tulsa Convention Center Arena
Thur 4/21 Park City, KS Hartman Arena
Fri 4/22 Springfield, MO Shrine Mosque
Fri 4/29 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
Sat 4/30 Bangor, ME Bangor Waterfront
Sun 5/1 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

www.AvalancheTour.com