CRIMSON GLORY's New Lineup Performs Live In Europe For First Time; Milan Show Canceled

Reactivated Florida-based melodic metallers CRIMSON GLORY made their European live debut with new singer Todd La Torre this past Wednesday, April 27 at Dynamo in Eindhoven, Holland. Video footage of the concert can be viewed below.

In other news, CRIMSON GLORY's tour manager Frode Johnsrud has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"CRIMSON GLORY deeply regret to inform you that the scheduled show in Milan, Italy on May 3rd is cancelled for reasons totally outside the band's control. All attempts to solve the situation or make compromises failed. The band has made an agreement with the promoter in Switzerland, and tickets sold for Milan will be honored. People travelling from Milan to Pratteln, Switzerland for the May 2nd show will also get a free tour T-shirt, signed poster by the band as well as a meet and greet when showing their Milan ticket. Again, the cancellation does not come from the CRIMSON GLORY. The band just played two successful gigs in The Netherlands, and the rest of the tour will not be affected by this."

Support on CRIMSON GLORY's 25th anniversary tour is coming from Norway's TRIOSPHERE and Holland's CIRRHA NIVA.

"Gearing up for this tour has been an amazing, intense experience," lead guitarist Jon Drenning previously said. "As the band has coalesced and centered around Todd La Torre, it's helped to both ease the loss of [former vocalist] Midnight, as well as remind us that we still have so much more to accomplish as a band. I know that there have been a lot of mixed feelings about CRIMSON GLORY carrying on without Midnight, but I know for certain that he would be very proud to know that his legacy marches on, and I truly believe that his fans worldwide will feel the same as we rise up, shake off the ashes and sear across the darkened sky. We're entering the next chapter of CRIMSON GLORY's 'Transcendence', and with Todd now fully integrated both as a singer and a brother, the band sounds as special, true, unique, and bad-ass as ever!"

The 2011 "Phoenix Rising" European spring tour has been in the works following the unveiling of Todd La Torre as the new frontman for the band at an intimate venue in Atlanta late last year. La Torre's spot-on performance was well-received and met with rave reviews, and it was immediately clear that the time had come to take CRIMSON GLORY back on the road.

The 25th anniversary marks more than just a milestone in the band's history — it is also a final chance to share late vocalist Midnight's legacy with fans across Europe:

"This is a real honor for me," said La Torre. "I'm looking forward to hitting the stage and proving myself to all our fans across Europe. This is a new beginning for me and CRIMSON GLORY, but I would also like to personally dedicate CRIMSON GLORY's 25th-anniversary tour and classic songs to Midnight. He was and will always be a legend in my mind. I will be developing my own style and have more influence on the band's sound as time goes on, of course, but I proudly carry the torch and will do my best to always keep Midnight's spirit alive by performing all the classic songs true to his original vision and in his honor."

"It will be a healing experience for a lot of people, including us," Drenning added. "There are so many fans of ours out there who never had the chance to see Midnight perform live with the band, and so these performances will at least allow them to feel his presence within the music we created together. Todd [La Torre] has not only displayed the technical ability to emulate Midnight, but he also has the emotional ability to convey the triumph and the torment that Mid lent to every song. This tour will be an honorable and fitting way for fans to say farewell to a legend, while celebrating the life and legacy of our late brother now and into the future of CRIMSON GLORY. Midnight will always be a part of us; in our hearts, our music, and our lives... forever."

The band has keyboardist John Zahner (CIRCLE II CIRCLE, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, SAVATAGE) onboard. Zahner also accompanied CRIMSON GLORY on their 1989 "Transcendence" world tour.

"We're very excited and honored to have John Zahner playing with us again," said CRIMSON GLORY bassist Jeff Lords. "John is obviously very familiar with our material, having played with us before on many occasions and we're looking forward to his presence adding to the atmosphere and well-rounded sound that is so intrinsic to CRIMSON GLORY's music."