In a surprising turn of events, Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia will be playing three shows in North America during their upcoming Ghostlights World Tour, two of which will actually be in the United States. Tickets will be available here, and go on sale this Saturday, January 16th, although no specific price has been announced. If you’re really devoted (read: smart) you’ll be checking up periodically with a blatant disregard to whatever numbers follow the dollar sign. Tickets will be on sale for the New York show this Saturday.
For these shows, only Avantasia will be playing. They will be bringing their full, three hour spectacle to the US for the first time since… I don’t actually know if they ever have. They certainly have not been here within the time that I’ve been listening to them, and that has to be going on seven years at this point.
“Anyway, even though it’s gonna be a rather short visit of just three shows – I can’t wait to bring AVANTASIA to the US and Canada. 3hrs of Epic Rock and Bombastic Metal – live at Disneyland – isn’t that a great fit?”
The band will be coming with their full cast of characters for the shows, including Michael Kiske (Unisonic, Place Vendome, ex-Helloween), Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan, ex-Ark), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Amanda Somerville, and more. Unfortunately Bob Catley will not be with them as Magnum will be touring Europe at that time.
“Great news – my North American friends: WE’RE COMING BACK! AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY WE’LL BE BACK – IN GREAT SHAPE: Toronto and New York confirmed, West Coast show in the works [Note: Now confirmed, Anaheim, CA]. Unfortunately Bob won’t be able to join us for the dates outside Europe as he will be off on a Magnum tour, but we’ll bring Michi Kiske, Jorn Lande, Eric Martin, Ronnie Atkins, Amanda Somerville, Herbie Langhans, Sascha Paeth, Olli Hartmann and ME of course… And Miro. And Andre on bass… And as if that wasn’t enough on drums there will be no other than… THE DRUMMER!!! Can’t wait to hit the stage!”
While announcing the shows, Sammet recalled his last show he played in Canada, and some unfortunate health problems that came along with it.
“You know, the few memories I have of our last Avantasia show in Canada are a bit blurry. Back then I went from hospital right to the stage as I had some real mean flu. I was so high on whatever medication the doctor gave me to make the show, all I remember are the green little creatures in my dressing room that were calling me names but always disappeared under the sofa whenever I tried to catch them to confront them with their silly behavior… Now, looking at the video I sounded quite a bit awful, ha! But I’ve been told I was funny and a very happy person that night.”
GHOSTLIGHTS WORLD TOUR: North American Dates
APRIL 11 – USA, Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues (Disneyland)
APRIL 13 – CANADA, Toronto – Queen Elizabeth Theater
APRIL 15 – USA, New York, NY -Playstation Theater
Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia will be releasing their seventh studio album Ghostlights on January 29th via Nuclear Blast Records. If you need any more reason that this show is worth traveling for, you can check out the first single “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose,” or the album teaser below. Ghostlights is available for pre-order here. It also features some very special guest vocalists, including Marco Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot), Geoff Tate (Operation: Mindcrime, ex-Queensryche), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), and many more.
