Carl Palmer Set to Embark on Whirlwind U.S. Visit; New Tour, New Film, New Mobile App Will Keep Rock Legend on the Go

NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- America get ready. The thunder and the fury are returning.

Carl Palmer, among the most renowned drummers in Rock history and a founding member of both ELP and ASIA, is returning to the U.S. for his third North American solo band tour since 2006; an appearance at the U.S. premiere of The Solo, an acclaimed U.K. art film featuring the famed drummer; and to promote the celebrated new iTunes mobile application - Play Carl Palmer's Drums.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Palmer returns during the month of October on stage, the silver screen, and the small screens of iPads, iPods, and iPhones. His U.S. appearances follow a string of successful shows in the U.K. and Europe, with his band.

"I always love working in America, but this time around, I have some really exciting aspects of my visit," says Palmer. "For me, it's always about how well you can connect to the fans, and the new tour, the film, and my new mobile app, has allowed for greater access than ever before."

Just prior to the launch of his tour, on Saturday afternoon, October 8th, Palmer will be the special guest at Cleveland's ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM, as part of their ongoing Legends Series programming. This event will also feature the U.S. premier of the art film The Solo (directed by acclaimed art-filmmaker Andrew Cross), a 35-minute movie that portrays the drum solo as a work of physical art, and features Palmer behind his drum kit.

"The film is not a Carl Palmer drum solo, as one might expect," says Palmer. "It explores how the drum kit and the person playing it can connect to create a live example of art, as one would view and absorb in a museum." The film has gotten rave reviews from art and film critics, during its run in U.K. art museums, and will be available on DVD in the fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouJetiHNAv0

In addition to The Solo, a special collection of film clips featuring Palmer performing with The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Emerson Lake & Palmer, ASIA and his own Carl Palmer band will be shown, before Palmer, himself, participates in a question and answer session with the audience.

The Saturday, October 8 event at the Rock Hall will be FREE with a reservation. Stay tuned to rockhall.com for registration information, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Palmer will also use this trip to promote his new iTunes mobile app, Play Carl Palmer's Drums, developed by Dynamic Websites. The innovative application, designed for ipods, ipads and iphones, allows the user to download Carl's drum kit to his or her devices and play along with fingers to any music playing through their iTunes program. Also included in the app is a myriad of rare Palmer archives and instant updates from his official website. Fans can purchase the app at the iTunes store:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/play-carl-palmers-drums/id447168749?mt=8

For the real experience of Carl Palmer's drums, fans will need to see his upcoming tour. Entitled "The Carl Palmer Band – 2011 Pictures At An Exhibition Tour," the show will present bold new arrangements of the best-loved instrumental music of ELP, and other composers. A multi-media experience combining music and video projection, the show promises to be among the most musically compelling tours of the year. CPB is a red-hot power trio that features Palmer on drums and percussion; guitarist Paul Bielatowicz and bassist Simon Fitzpatrick.

"Since the early part of this decade I have been playing with my own power trio, replacing the keyboards with electric guitar. I felt that was the only honest way to approach the music of ELP. I didn't want to have a singer trying to sound like Greg Lake. ELP did so much instrumental music, this format made sense to me. Hearing the keyboard parts done on guitar is certainly different, but just as satisfying. The idea was to re-invent this iconic music."

Palmer has released four solo albums since the last ELP tour 1998. They are: DO YA WANNA PLAY?, a 2 CD anthology and WORKING LIVE Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 3, (released on Eagle Rock). Since his last extensive U.S.-Canadian-South American solo tour, Palmer has remained active with ASIA (Geoff Downes, Steve Howe and John Wetton), touring and recording. The band will return in 2012, for its 30th Anniversary.

As for ELP, Palmer closed that chapter of his life when the band played a final show in 2010 at London's High Voltage Festival, where they celebrated their 40th Anniversary.

For this solo band tour, Palmer will again meet fans after each show, doing autograph signings at most venues.

The Carl Palmer Band will play nearly two hours and drum enthusiasts can expect an evening of compelling percussive theatrics, from the man who brought the drum set to the forefront of rock n roll music.

Carl Palmer image: http://www.xpresspress.com/images/carlpalmer.jpg

FOR ALL THINGS CARL PALMER: www.carlpalmer.com

CARL PALMER BAND 2011 U.S. TOUR DATES

CONTACT: Bruce Pilato, Pilato Entertainment, 585-454-2756, [email protected]

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SOURCE Pilato Entertainment