Flying Colors Flying To U.S. & Europe

Former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse are taking their new band Flying Colors out for a spin in September with two gigs in the U.S., followed by a European tour.

Executive producer Bill Evans brought the band together, which also includes former Spock’s Beard keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse, Dixie Dregs bassist David LaRue, and Alpha Rev vocalist Casey McPherson.

Portnoy and Neal Morse previously worked together in the supergroup Transatlantic. Steve Morse plays with LaRue in Dixie Dregs, which Morse founded in 1970.

Photo: Owen Sweeney / OwenSweeneyPhoto.com

Tropican Casino, Atlantic City, N.J.

Flying Colors wrote and recorded its self-titled debut over nine days in January 2011. Released in March 2012, the album was produced by Peter Collins, whose resume includes albums with Rush, Bon Jovi, Jewel and Elton John.

“It was quite an experience making the album,” LaRue said. “It’s been an inspiring challenge melding folk, prog, pop and metal into one big recording.”

U.S. fans will have two chances to check out the group live in September – Sept. 4 in Torrance, Calif., at the James Armstrong Theater and Sept. 6 at New York City’s Best Buy Theater.

The European tour begins Sept. 9 in Hamburg, Germany, at Markthalle. Additional Germany shows are scheduled in Berlin (Sept. 10), Munich (Sept. 11), Stuttgart (Sept. 15), Aschaffenburg (Sept. 16) and Cologne (Sept. 17).

Flying Colors will also play Milan, Italy (Sept. 13); Zurich, Switzerland (Sept. 14); Paris (Sept. 19); Tilburg, Netherlands (Sept. 20) and London (Sept. 21).

Tickets for the New York City show go on sale May 11. The rest of the dates are on sale now.

In a post announcing the tour, Flying Colors explained the band initially wanted to schedule more gigs.

“We planned to play more shows, but so much awesome can only be contained for a limited time. Plus Steve is pregnant.”

For more information visit FlyingColorsMusic.com.