B.B.'s Farewell UK Tour B.B. King & Gary Moore

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Universally hailed as the reigning king of the blues, B.B. King, who has just recently celebrated his 80th birthday, has just announced his last ever UK tour, with five ultra-rare dates in March and April 2006. The blues guitar legend will team up with Gary Moore to share the once in a lifetime double bill for what is set to be one of the most spectacular rhythm'n'blues concert tours ever to hit UK shores. This one-time only double bill will team B.B. King up with Northern Irish classic blues guitarist, Gary Moore, who's career dates back to the 1960s and has graced the line-ups of Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, BBM and Skid Row and his most recent rock trio, Scars.

The tour kicks off a UK 5-date tour at Sheffield Arena on Wednesday 29th March, 2006, and will also take in arena dates 31st March 2006 Manchester MEN Arena, 1st April 2006 Birmingham NEC Arena, 2nd April 2006 Bournemouth BIC, 4th April 2006 Wembley Arena.. The three hour concerts will see Gary Moore perform the first half, with the second half performance by B.B. King.

B.B. King's Line-up: B.B. King - guitar and vocals, James Bolden - trumpet - MD, Stanley Abernathy - trumpet, Walter King - sax, Melvin Jackson - sax, Earnest Vantrease - keyboards, Calep Emphrey - drums, Reggie Richards - bass, Charlie Dennis - guitar

B.B. KingThroughout the 1990's as well as the 1980's, 1970's, 1960's and 1950's, there has been only one King of the Blues - Riley B. King, affectionately known as B.B. King. Since B.B. started recording in the late 1940's, he has released over 50 albums many of them considered blues classics, like 1965's definitive live blues album "Live At The Regal", and 1976's collaboration with Bobby "Blue" Bland, "Together For The First Time".

Over the years, B.B. has had two number one R & B hits, 1951's "Three O'Clock Blues", and 1952's "You Don't Know Me", and four number two R & B hits, 1953's "Please Love Me", and 1954's "You Upset Me Baby", 1960's "Sweet Sixteen, Part I", and 1966's "Don't Answer The Door, Part I". B.B.'s most popular crossover hit, 1970's "The Thrill Is Gone" went to #15 pop.

But B.B. King, as well as the entire blues genre, is not radio oriented. His classic songs such as "Payin' The Cost To Be The Boss", "Caldonia", " How Blue Can You Get", "Everyday I Have The Blues", and "Why I Sing The Blues", are concert (and fan) staples.

Gary Moorewas born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 4th 1952. Like many others, he was turned on to rock and roll first through hearing Elvis Presley, and then via The Beatles. Seeing the likes of Jimi Hendrix and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in his hometown in the mid-60s opened up to him the rich world of The Blues. Hearing the art of the Blues guitar performed by such lauded exponents as Peter Green fired Moore's nascent talent, and it wasn't long before he was being hailed as a teen musical prodigy. Indeed, it was Green himself who helped foster Moore's career, a debt that was repaid handsomely when Gary cut his warm and heartfelt tribute to his mentor, the 'Blues For Greeny' album, released in 1995.

Gary's first band, the power trio Skid Row, secured a record deal with CBS in 1970. By this time, Gary had moved to Dublin, and befriended Phil Lynott, who filled the vocal role with Skid Row until shortly before the CBS deal was signed. Gary cut three albums with the band, and toured the US supporting The Allman Brothers Band, and Mountain amongst others, before he split Skid Row to embark on a solo career. This proved short-lived, as Gary soon reunited with Lynott and replaced Eric Bell in the Thin Lizzy. Although he was briefly in the band, he rejoined following the departure of Brian Robertson in 1977, and again, finally, for the 'Black Rose' tour in 1978.

In 1979, Gary's began his solo career with the evocative hit single, 'Parisienne Walkways', which pitched Gary's tasteful, blues-soaked lead guitar with a Phil Lynott guest vocal. The single reached the UK Top Ten in April that year, and the subsequent album, 'Back On The Streets' was similarly well-received.

The late 1970s and early 80s were characterised by Gary's restless search for the best musical settings for his talents; a reunion with Phil Lynott produced the powerful 'Out In The Fields' hit single (1985). He explored his Celtic roots on the album 'Wild Frontier' (1987), but it was with the 1990 album, 'Still Got The Blues', that Gary carved a rich musical and creative outlet. This and its successor, 'After Hours' included cameo appearances from the likes of such Blues guitar greats as Albert King, B.B. King, and Albert Collins, and it is a testament to Gary's own remarkable talents. In 1994, Gary worked alongside Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce in the band BBM, releasing one accomplished album, before resuming his solo career.

The, 'Back To The Blues' album enabled the consummately talented musician to revisit the blues with renewed vigour and determination, after the more experimental 'Dark Days In Paradise' and 'A Different Beat' albums. A 10-track collection mixed excellent Moore originals with gritty and intense covers of standards such as 'Stormy Monday', 'You Upset Me Baby' and 'I Ain't Got You'. The album is nothing less than a resounding return to form. Gary effortlessly mixed and matched contrasting styles whilst displaying an authentic feeling for the music and dazzling technique. Recorded almost as a 'live in the studio' affair, 'Back To The Blues' swings and rocks, and shows Gary Moore to be a True Keeper of the Blues Flame.

In the tradition of keeping his fans and critics guessing, 2002's Gary Moore came crashing back onto the music scene with what has to be his heaviest collection of songs to date, once again forcing people to reassess any opinions and preconceptions they may have of him.

That time round though, Moore had decided to share the limelight, joining forces with ex-Skunk Anansie bassist Cass Lewis and Primal Scream drummer Darrin Mooney to form "Scars", a true power trio in every respect.

The "Scars" album was completed in early 2002 and that line-up, then went on to record the "Monsters of Rock" 2003 live CD and DVD.

2004, saw possibly the rawest album yet from Gary Moore, "Power of the Blues". This 10 track set, recorded mostly live in the studio, ranged from the hard rock/blues of the title track, via the upbeat swing of "Can't Find My Baby", to the haunting "Torn Inside". Gary says of "Power Of The Blues", "This is rawest album I've done for many years, maybe the rawest ever......."

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