Brian Howe Heads To Iraq For A ‘Command Performance’

IRAQ (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Regarded as one of rock’s legendary voices, Brian Howe first came to the attention of AOR fans as lead vocalist for Ted Nugent. It’s been 13 years since the former lead vocalist of the super-group Bad Company (1984-94), released his first solo LP. Now, with the release of solo 2, “Circus Bar” (Frontier Records) set for February 26th in Europe and March 9th in the States, Brian Howe finds himself preparing for a history-making event and concert. Four March concerts are scheduled for Kuwait and Iraq and one is a “command performance” for the historic “Change of Command Ceremony”– Baghdad – March 12, 2010.

The Bad Company/Brian Howe/Kuwait/Iraq mini-tour is funded (and supported) by the U.S. Forces Iraq/Entertainment Branch.

The “Change of Command Ceremony” is traditionally practiced and it is a transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one leader to another. The March 12th ceremony could be deemed the first phase of President Obama’s overall withdrawal of US troops – Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Baghdad-based U.S. Forces Iraq had Bad Company’s Brian Howe on “their short list”. They called group’s agent, who told the band there was an offer from the Iraq Entertainment Branch requesting Brian and the band to perform four concerts in March. The call came however, just as Brian was making promotional plans for “Circus Bar”. Quick and simple – “Circus Bar’s launch” would be postponed for a week or two.

This out-of-the-blue “command performance” for the troops was an honor the band did not expect that day. The concerts in Kuwait and Iraq were not going to be ordinary concerts – there is a risk element in the mix. Brian and the band decided that even with their commitment to a heavy 2010 touring schedule, they could not pass up this chance of lifetime to give back to our men and women serving overseas.

“At first news, I could not believe what I was hearing – me going to Iraq? What are they going to do – parachute me in and ask me to sing on the way down to scare the Taliban? Seriously though, the boys and girls in uniform have been there for awhile without any real Rock ‘n Roll that I know of. I could not pass up the chance of doing concerts in Iraq. This time Baghdad is going to be rocked in a different way.

We are heading to a city where bombings occur on a daily basis. However, this time, it will be our explosive rock ‘n roll show that shakes Baghdad – Bad Company style.

The U.S. Forces division and their production expertise are well-known. This isn’t their first concert. Also, Jeff Thornton of Lone Wolf Entertainment is managing the dates along with my management/booking agency, Artists International Mgt. (Boca Raton, FL.). So I’d say we have our bases covered – Iraq and Baghdad here we come,” Howe said. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers