Leading up to the March 1 launch of his latest solo album, The Mandrake Project, under the BMG label, and the commencement of a four-month tour, Bruce Dickinson, the lead vocalist of IRON MAIDEN, has unveiled the inclusion of two new guitarists to his touring lineup.
Joining the previously announced lineup of Dave Moreno (drums), Mistheria (keyboards), and Tanya O’Callaghan (bass) are Swedish-born guitarist, songwriter, and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund, alongside Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq, who notably contributed to Dickinson‘s current single, “Rain On The Graves.” Bruce‘s longtime collaborator and producer, Roy “Z” Ramirez, will not be part of the touring roster.
Dickinson said: “Sadly, and with regret, guitarist and producer Roy Z will no longer join the band on tour due to some personal commitments. He will remain in L.A. to work on some remixing and remastering of the catalogue. We all know the show must go on though, and this project is too important to everyone to not be the very best it can be. I’m gutted about Roy because he assembled most of the album and touring band, introducing Mistheria and Dave Moreno to the project and mentoring guitarist Chris Declerq. I’m so excited about what both Philip and Chris will bring on stage together and now my only ambition is to grab a little piece of the audiences’ hearts every night.”
The first opportunity to experience the six-piece ensemble live will take place at The Observatory in Orange County, California, on April 15. Tickets for the event will be available to the general public starting Tuesday, February 20, at 10 a.m. PST on Ticketmaster.com.
Dickinson commented: “We’re not afraid of doing some growing up in public, so this show will be a close to a rehearsal as you can get. It’s exciting to think what these musicians can do, and will do, when there are over one thousand fans in the room!”
Dickinson will release his new solo album, The Mandrake Project, on March 1 via BMG. Alongside the album, Bruce also announced an exciting collaboration with Z2 for an upcoming comic series. To the delight of the international comic community, 2,000 exclusive versions of the comic were unveiled at CCXP, adding to the excitement surrounding this extraordinary project.
With ten captivating and innovative tracks, The Mandrake Project promises to be a definitive rock album of 2024, showcasing Bruce Dickinson’s exceptional vocal prowess and his long-standing partnership with co-writer and producer Roy “Z” Ramirez.
