I have been asked to play a story tellers type performance at Borders Book Store in Northridge, California, August 1st at 6pm. I will be performing two sets between 6 to 8pm. The address for the store is 9301 Tampa Ave. Northridge, CA, 91324. This show will be unique in that they have asked me to elaborate on my experiences in India with the Tibetan monks and my time in Israel/Palestine. Hope to see you there! Thank you Charrie Foglio for making it all happen

Borders Store Phone - 818-886-5443

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Tommy Denander will join Dan Reed on stage the 24th of June at The Bitter End in New York. Tommy played with Dan both in Stockholm and London during Dan`s latest European tour to the delight of all who attended. An evening not to miss if you are in the NY area.

I am very honored and happy that guitarist Tommy Denander and vocalist Jeff Scott Soto will be joining me on stage for a number of songs at Bush Hall, this next Thursday, the 7th of May in London. Both are very talented and inspiring musicians, and it is great to have them bring some extra color and excitement to the evening. Tommy joined me on stage in Stockholm a few weeks back and it took things to another level. Also to have Jeff Scott Soto join me for vocals on ‘The Promised Land’ I think will prove to be a memorable moment, since the song is about two brothers making peace. Please read below if you are interested in learning more about either of these wonderful souls, and I look forward to seeing all those who can attend on the 7th. Peace… Dan

TOMMY DENANDER

Signed his first record contract in 1983 at the age of 15 with Polygram/Vertigo with his Swedish hard rock band ATC, Tommy was quickly hailed as a wunderkind by the media around the world. In a short time he was becoming a sought after session guitarist for countless Swedish artists and in 1987 at the age of 19 he moved to Los Angeles to take his career to the next level. He quickly became a first call session musician and producer as word spread and appeared on many high profile recordings including the Oscar winning movie “Gorilla’s In The Mist” and playing with top names like Toto, Zakk Wylde, Matt Sorum. Tommy is today one of the most sought after guitarists, song writers and producers in the world with more than 30 gold and platinum rewards, 4 US Grammy nominations, an Australian Grammy for album of the year in 2008 for Bedford and many other awards and readers poll wins.

JEFF SCOTT SOTO

Jeff Scott Soto is an artiste who has graced many stages, a hybrid redolent of soul, pop, rock, blues and R&B influenced by luminaries such as Queen, Prince and Sam Cooke and a man who has proved, across the years that he can deliver all these genre well. In a career spanning more than 25 years, beginning as the vocalist for guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen leading to front man for many bands including; ‘Talisman’, the legendary ‘Journey’, ‘Soul SirkUS’ and most recently ‘Trans-Siberian Orchestra’. He came to the notice of many in the industry when he provided the lead vocals for the main character / singer of ‘Steel Dragon’ in the 2001 Mark Wahlberg motion picture ‘Rock Star. In 2002 he set out on the long, arduous road of a solo career in which he has released 4 solo albums including his most diverse to date, ‘Beautiful Mess’ released early 2009. With an audience that comes from Europe, Asia, South America and North America, his appeal is about to be widened further with this new release.

Link to pre-order ‘Coming Up For Air’ Studio Album -

http://www.danreed.com/pages/pre-order/2/

Link to purchase the new Live CD -

http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/Dan+Reed

As someone who was raised Catholic and has since decided that all religions are talking about the same destination, just taking different roads to get there… I was truly dismayed by the Pope’s antiquated thinking today while visiting the African continent, the region of the world hit hardest by the AIDS virus. The church’s theory that abstaining from sex will win the day has proven hollow, especially in light of all the clergy that have not been able to abstain from abusing young boys and get a free pass from legal prosecution, while some men and women spend years in prison for mush lesser offenses. ‘Abstinence’, unless taught from a young age whilst living in a society of high moral aspirations, will always fail. One only needs to look to modern day music video’s, advertisements, pop culture and see that the days of courting one’s future mate, marrying them first, then having sexual relations, are long gone… perhaps to our detriment, but the fact remains… if the clergy can’t keep it in their pants, how does the Pope expect those who do not profess such holiness to do so? His reaffirmation today in Africa of the church’s stand on the banning of condoms just signed the death warrant of untold numbers of people in that region who hold his words as gospel… and I for one am deeply saddened by his ignorance and/or adherence to a position that was never addressed in the New Testament. How could it be? Condoms were not even invented yet. The Pope may be the direct line to God for millions of Catholics around the world, but is this position on condom use compassion? Is this what Jesus would support if he were alive today? The Pope is a human being, who rose to the top of the ladder in his chosen faith. This truth, however, should not give him any credit to stroll into a country that is riddled with a disease that has stricken young and old, rich and poor, man, woman and child… and then claim to have any moral authority to tell them to abstain from protecting themselves from almost certain death. It is disturbing to say the least.

I will apologize for upsetting any Catholic followers out there that I may have offended with this writing, when the Pope apologizes for his insensitivity to what is happening in these current times.

The dark ages are over. The Roman Catholic Church is one of the wealthiest organizations in the world, while Jesus said give your shirt off your back to the needy. The Church is exempt from paying taxes while the world economy crumbles… and the Church and its clergy are relatively free from criminal prosecution when it comes to their misconduct. Isn’t it about time they live up to Jesus’ words and deeds? Granted the Roman Catholic Church is one of the biggest providers of HIV care giving… and this I will credit them for. But what is it saying giving millions to care for the infected on one hand, while on the other hand you are blindly letting the disease spread through banning condoms?

Today I met the Un-Pope on a street corner and he made a new dictate -

“Oh ye of little faith… please wear condoms if you wish, oh human beings of the world! In these times of overpopulation and disease, I have great faith condoms will do you much good service in the eyes of God… for ‘abstinence’ has failed you so!  Now go forth and multiply!!… or at least ‘practice multiplying’ as you humans seem to enjoy doing so often… and be safe in the process if you so choose! Ok… that’s it, time for me to go back to my non-trillion dollar castle in Rome. Now where did I park my non-bullet proof Un-Pope Mobile?”

Hey… this Un-Pope guy may just be on to something…

Everyone has been asking “When will the new record be released?” and to be honest it is held up due to legal negotiations and will not be available during the European tour, however, in its absence I have put together a live CD from the March 7th show in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, and from the benefit for the Children’s Cancer Society on the 6th of March at Danny Zelisko’s home in Phoenix, Arizona. Many people have been asking after the shows about having the live acoustic set recordings, so this will hopefully satisfy those who wanted live recordings of some Dan Reed Network favorites like Ritual, Salt of Joy, Lover, Stronger than Steel, and others… along with a preview of the new solo material played as they were written- on the acoustic guitar. This Limited Edition Live CD will be available at the live performances only and I hope you all will enjoy it.  I apologize for the very long wait on the studio album. I look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming shows… thank you for your patience and your faith in the music.  Dan