DOOGIE WHITE Comments On YNGWIE Tour, CORNERSTONE And Other Projects

CORNERSTONE, the project featuring ROYAL HUNT bassist Steen Mogensen and ex-RAINBOW/current YNGWIE MALMSTEEN vocalist Doogie White, have signed a Japanese record deal with Yamaha Communications. The group's recently completed third album, "Once Upon Our Yesterdays", will get a Japanese release on May 19. "They have a very strong marketing programme for us and we are really happy with their ideas," Doogie writes on his web site. "We also signed an American deal and the album comes out there on 22nd June 2004. In addition to all of this we have signed up to make a DVD which will have a live concert with out takes and interviews. Full details when we get them.

"We also played our first full live show at VEGA in Copenhagen on 12th February," Doogie continued. "It felt good to be on the stage with the band and by all accounts we played and sounded good. To be playing these songs live is such a blast as they take on a different feel live.

"It was refreshing to go back to the albums and listen to them with fresh ears as I am not one to play the albums more than once after they are recorded. The songs are as exciting and full of energy are I remembered and the choice of songs for the set made the show tight and edgy. It seems now we have a powerful line up and we are planning to tour later in the year. Again more details as they come in.

"Steen and I are exchanging ideas for the next album. There is no rush but we may as well keep the momentum going!!"

With regards to his collaboration with guitarist Bill Liesegang, White wrote, "The album is finished and we are waiting on a release date from Escape Music. It is a very varied album and is the most guitar based album I've been on since the last guitar-based album... Stand up Mr. Malmsteen. The album is called 'Visual Surveillance of Extremities'. A full track listing will be posted here soon."

Doogie also commented on the recently completed YNGWIE MALMSTEEN U.S. tour, which saw the live debut with the group of former QUIET RIOT/OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Rudy Sarzo.

"Where do I start? Getting upgraded on BA to First Class was the first exciting moment (Cheers Dear Boy) Never having flown in the bubble of a 747 before was an experience.

"Miami was hot and sticky as always, and it was at the hotel I met Rudy Sarzo the new bass player. Great guy, great player with great tales to tell. That was the only change to the lineup from Japan and Europe. Both Patrik and Joakim were back for more.

"We started in New Orleans and that gig set the standard and pace for the rest of the tour. I don't know that we had a bad night or bad show. Even though we were playing 5 on one off 6 on. It was natural and loads of energy was meated out to the audiences every night. The shows were for the most part 2 3/4 hour long. Of course we had 3 hour sound checks where we jammed new ideas and played old songs for fun. We played outdoors in Sacramento and were closed down for being too loud. We had [Jeff Scott Soto] sing with us in LA. We visited the USS NIMITZ as guests of the US Navy. We lay waste to Denver and Albany and many places in between. I got to hang out with some friends from the RAINBOW days and even caught up with Bomber, my first crew guy from La Paz days. He has fallen on hard times and now is guitar tech for Sarah Brightman. We were guests at a DARKNESS show alongside AEROSMITH and CHEAP TRICK. But the enduring memory is of a really tight hard rockin band of guys tearing it up for enthusiastic and sometimes over-enthusiastic audiences.(We don't do stagedivers, 'want to get on stage??... join a band!!!).

"Sad it's over, for now, but stay tuned as who knows what is round the corner.

"Thanks to all of you who came over to say hello and to those of you who had CORNERSTONE, CHAIN & MIDNIGHT BLUE albums and even 12" singles. Where do you dig that stuff up from?"