Music of Hendrix, Joplin, Pink Floyd, and more returns to Wachovia Spectrum during FLASHBACK concert (Sept 26)

Classic rock fans can relive those great Spectrum concert memories when Mystic Orchestra performs the music of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and more in “FLASHBACK - the Classic Rock Experience” at the Wachovia Spectrum on Friday, September 26 at 8 p.m.

Comcast-Spectacor announced that 2008-09 will be the final season for the Wachovia Spectrum, which has a long history of classic rock concerts since it opened in 1967. FLASHBACK will remember many Spectrum memories including Joplin (last Spectrum show on October 19, 1968), Hendrix (last Spectrum show on April 12, 1969), Pink Floyd (last Spectrum show on June 12, 1975), and Deep Purple (last Spectrum show was April 25, 1987).

Tickets at $20, $35, $50, $65, and $175 are on sale NOW via ComcastTIX.com, 1-800-298-4200, the Wachovia Complex Box Office, and select ACME locations. Fans can visit RememberTheSpectrum.com to pay tribute and showcase the history of the famed arena with artifacts, video, photographs and memorabilia. More information about FLASHBACK is available at FLASHBACKtour.com.

With its amazing team of musicians, technical wizards and design specialists, “FLASHBACK - the Classic Rock Experience,” delivers the hit music of the all-time greatest artists in a mind-boggling multi-media spectacle with light shows and pyrotechnics.

With music director Frank Gilcken at the helm, the Mystic Orchestra features 14 brilliant rock musicians and singers, as well as an 11-piece string-and-horn section, together elevating classic rock to new heights. For the Mystic Orchestra core band, Gilcken recruited fellow guitarists Phil Hilborne and Jamie Humphries (veterans of the hit Queen retrospective “We Will Rock You” and the Australian Pink Floyd Show, respectively), keyboardist Brian Chatton (Phil Collins and Meatloaf), keyboard/woodwind player David Boruff (Madonna, Chicago) and Australian drummer Adam Troughear.

Rocking the microphones include star lead vocalist Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night), Shaun Williamson (lead singer of King Karma), Katrina Chester (star of the off-Broadway smash “Love, Janis”), Spanish vocalist Jose Manzano, and Elizabeth Eagan.

The nearly three-hour show reworks indelible songs of the most highly regarded era in rock: The Doors’ “Light My Fire” and “Riders on the Storm”; Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” and “Mercedes Benz”; Jimi Hendrix masterpieces like “Purple Haze” and “Foxy Lady.” Other rock classics include Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild,” “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes, Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” as well as Three Dog Night’s “One” and “Joy to the World,” sung by Chuck Negron.

The second half of the show offers something never before attempted in the rock ‘n’ roll universe: Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd playing together. All their greatest songs are featured, including Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” “Kashmir” and “Stairway to Heaven,” as well as Pink Floyd’s “Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” This is a carefully crafted meeting of the titans - a loving vision of what might have been.

Behind the scenes, founder and creative director Rick Bowen assembled a world-class production team to mount “FLASHBACK - the Classic Rock Experience.” They include promotions manager and founder of Rainbow Ticketmasters, Lou Dickstein; lighting designers Bryan Hartley and Phil Ealy; art designer Ed Unitsky; and sound mixer Seth Goldman. Collectively, these experts have worked with the top acts in rock ’n roll including Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Kiss, Elton John, Van Halen and David Bowie.

Six truckloads of intelligent LED lighting, lasers, pyrotechnics, an overhead helium-filled zeppelin with two screens and five additional towering hi-def video screens are all backed up by an EAW Quad 225,000-watt surround sound system.

Bowen is in a unique position to oversee “FLASHBACK - the Classic Rock Experience.” A veteran producer/promoter of at least 1,500 concerts, Bowen has seen and worked with such immortals as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues, Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Three Dog Night, and Rod Stewart, to name a few. But he sees this project as the culmination of a life’s work.

Tickets for all Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum events are available exclusively through ComcastTIX at ComcastTIX.com, 1-800-298-4200, the Wachovia Complex Box Office, select ACME locations, the Virtua Health Flyers Skate Zone at Voorhees, and the Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone at N.E. Philly. Join the free Wachovia Complex CyberClub and receive advance notice and special offers to future events at Comcast-Spectacor.com.

Monday, August 18, 2008