Legendary guitarist Tony MacAlpine has announced the postponement of his previously scheduled tours in Asia and Australia. He explains in a statement: "Last week I was taken to the hospital with severe stomach pains. Following blood work, multiple MRI scans and various procedures, medical doctors discovered a large mass in my intestine, and it seems likely that we are dealing with cancer. My doctors have advised me that this will need to be dealt with immediately, and I am scheduled for surgery this week. Recovery from this surgery will take a month right when I was scheduled to tour the Australasian region."He continues: "Providing all goes well, it is our understanding I should be well enough to perform on the coming European tour."For Australia and Asia, we are working on rescheduling the shows. We will advise you as soon as possible when the new dates are booked."MacAlpine adds: "We apologize for any inconvenience these tour postponements have caused, but I'm determined to make these dates up, and rock your city soon!"In his 29-year career, MacAlpine has redefined instrumental hard rock, jazz-fusion and heavy metal for a generation of progressive-minded music fanatics. Whether it's been as a solo artist, or with the progressive supergroup PSMS (with Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian); the mind-bending metal fusion band PLANET X (with Derek Sherinian and Virgil Donati); the Grammy-nominated jazz-fusion group CAB; or in the band of another guitar hero Steve Vai, MacAlpine has continued to evolve and set the bar exceedingly high.On April 21, Tony released his highly anticipated opus "Concrete Gardens" (SunDog Records), featuring 12 tracks of complex, intricate, yet hook-laden melodies, blinding solos and crushing 7- and 8-string guitar riffs, complemented by his own equally exceptional keyboards. This is built atop a formidable rhythmic foundation laid down by Brazilian drum sensation Aquiles Priester (PRIMAL FEAR, HANGAR, ANGRA). Rounding out the rhythm section is bassist Pete Griffin (SHINING, GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA, ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA), along with guest appearances by bassists Sean Delson (FOZZY, STUCK MOJO), Lucky Islam and MacAlpine himself. Guitar virtuoso Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY, CONQUERING DYSTOPIA, ex-NEVERMORE) guests for an extended guitar solo trade. "Concrete Gardens" was mixed by Brazilian producer and engineer Adair Daufembach, and mastered by Seva David Ball. Written and recorded in his Pasadena, California home studio (with drums recorded in Brazil), MacAlpine has blended metal, prog, jazz-fusion and rock into a tightly wound trip that is reflected in the album's title both brutal and beautiful. "Concrete Gardens" is available in both standard and special edition versions the special edition version includes a bonus DVD of Tony and band performing the album live at EMGtv. Featured is Aquiles Priester (drums), Pete Griffin (bass) and Nili Brosh (guitar), plus a special appearance by Jeff Loomis.
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