California '66 Revue adds Moby Grape's Jerry Miller

Following the unexpected death last month of The Seeds' Sky Saxon, the previously planned California '66 Revue tour has been revamped to feature Jerry Miller from Moby Grape alongside The Electric Prunes and Love , led by Johnny Echols.

The 14-date '60s psych-pop revival, launches Aug. 4 in Philadelphia and works its way through the eastern part of the nation, concluding with an Aug. 18 performance in Alexandria, VA. Miller, lead guitarist for the San Francisco-based Moby Grape, will join the psychedelic crew for the tour's final half (8/12-18) in the wake of Saxon's June 25 death. The full schedule is shown below.

Sky "Sunlight" Saxon, frontman and bassist of '60s psychedelic garage-rockers The Seeds, died June 25 of heart failure in an Austin, TX, hospital. The mop-headed musician was thought to be 71, according to the New York Times, though his official birth date is unknown.

"This is an idea the founders of the Electric Prunes had; to gather three influential '60s bands from Los Angeles area together to create the excitement that was the LA music scene in 1966," tour promoter Patrick Hand stated on the outing's official website. "I've come to think that 1966 really was the year that rock music peaked, before the excesses of stadium venues and art rock, and these musicians were a big part of that."

The summer tour might not be the end of the road for the trio of acts.

"We wanted to do a few shows in intimate venues to see if there is still interest in this genre, and we've already passed the test," Hand said in a press release. "If the public is as enthusiastic in attending the shows as the clubs have been in booking, then I have no doubt we'll be back on the road again in the West Coast and the UK."

The Prunes--who still feature founding members Lowe and Tulin--released several influential singles in the mid-'60s, including "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)," which is considered one of the first hit psychedelic-rock records.

Love, originally led by singer/guitarist Arthur Lee until his 2006 death, is best known for its 1967 epic "Forever Changes," which remains one of the most highly regarded and influential psychedelic albums ever recorded. The current incarnation of the band is led by lead guitarist and original member Johnny Echols.

Miller helmed Moby Grape as lead guitarist, recording four albums with the band before its 1970 breakup. In the years since Grape, Miller has performed alongside Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant and Taj Mahal.

TOUR DATES
 tour dates and tickets
August 2009
4 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
5 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
6 - Fairfield, CT - Quick Center
7 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
8 - Montreal, Quebec - Theater Plaza
9 - New York, NY - B.B. King's
10 - Foxborough, MA - Patriot's Place
12 - Chicago, IL - Double Door
13 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
14 - Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
15 - Detroit, MI - The Magic Bag
16 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Hard Rock Cafe
18 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere

 tour dates and tickets
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