Big Head Todd & The Monsters pen space anthem, mount tour

Big Head Todd & The Monsters will take time out from their current U.S. tour to attend this month's NASA Space Shuttle launch, an event the group will commemorate by releasing a new song.

Titled "Blue Sky," the number "has been recognized as the theme song of the Space Shuttle's much-anticipated return flight," according to a press release. As such, NASA has invited the rock trio to be on hand during the July 13 launch at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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The song will be available exclusively via Apple's iTunes Music Store beginning July 12, and will also turn up on the group's next album, for which no release date is set.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Todd Park Mohr wrote "Blue Sky" at the urging of John Horan, Deputy Program Manager for ASRC Aerospace Corporation, NASA's research and development contractor. The two met in January during the group's BHTM Fan Cruise, a week-long excursion through the British Virgin Islands that the band hosts for 240 fans each spring.

"John's a fan and came on our [cruise]," Mohr said in a statement. "We got to talking, and he said they've used [Elton John's] 'Rocket Man' so much and wanted a song specifically about the American shuttle program.

"I drew on my experience from visiting the Kennedy Space Center with [bandmates] Brian [Nevin (drums)] and Rob [Squires (bass)], where we were given a behind-the-scenes tour. I also utilized the astronauts' autobiographical material posted on the NASA website. I am a believer in space exploration and believe the effort is in many ways the cream and flower of human achievement."

After attending the launch, the group will resume its U.S. tour, for which dates are set through mid-September. Also scheduled is a late-July trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the group will participate in a multi-day event dubbed "True Experience"; other acts scheduled to attend include the Gin Blossoms, Cowboy Mouth, Dan Dyer, Peter Searcy, Damien Alvie, Catch Penny and others.

BHTM's tour itinerary is included below, and details about the Cabo event are posted at the band's website.

Also posted at the site is information about the group's 2006 BHTM Fan Cruise, which is set to take place March 18-25.

Big Head Todd & The Monsters' most recent studio set is last year's "Crimes of Passion." That album followed 2003's "Riviera," which marked the group's first new studio release in five years.

TOUR DATES
 tour dates and tickets
July 2005
8 - Minneapolis, MN - Basilica Block Party
9 - Des Moines, IA - Simon Estes Amphitheater
14 - Steamboat Springs, CO - Steamboat Springs Free Summer Concert
21 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Cabo Wabo Cantina
22 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Hotel Finisterra
28 - Salt Lake City, UT - Gallivan Utah Center
29, 30 - Sparks, NV - John Ascuaga's Nugget

August 2005
3 - Paso Robles, CA - California Mid-State Fair
5 - Saratoga, CA - Historic Mountain Winery
6 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
7 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
12 - Three Forks, MT - Rockin' the Rivers
24-26 - Isle of Palms, SC - The Windjammer
27 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge

September 2005
2 - Maryville, TN - Smokey Mountain Harley
3 - Naperville, IL - Naperville Last Fling
4 - Indianapolis, IN - Rib Fest
10 - Portsmouth, NH - Red Hook Brewery
16 - Deadwood, SD - Deadwood Jam

 tour dates and tickets
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