Flashback Brings Classic Rock to Civic Center

Jul 8th, 2008

John Lennon gave the marching orders long ago. Imagine. For his part, veteran concert promoter Rick Bowen imagined a rock concert like no other: Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd playing together on one stage. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and other legends performing with the benefit of today’s state-of-the-art lighting and sound. The elusive tribal feeling, unique to classic rock concerts, recreated for a new generation.

Imagine no more. “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience,” featuring the Mystic Orchestra, is about to storm the concert arenas of America – kicking off August 27 at the Civic Center in Mobile, Alabama.

With its elite team of musicians, technical wizards and design specialists, “Flashback –– the Classic Rock Experience,” delivers anew the hit music of the all-time greatest artists: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and more, presented in a mind-boggling multi-media spectacle one must see to believe.

“The intention is to present the music like it’s never been presented before,” says Bowen, founder of “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience,” and its creative director. “I wanted to do it even better than done originally. We have the world’s greatest players, who studied every move the classic bands ever made.”

With music director Frank Gilcken at the helm, the Mystic Orchestra features 14 brilliant rock musicians and singers, as well as an 11-piece string-and-horn section, together elevating classic rock to new heights. For the Mystic Orchestra core band, Gilcken recruited fellow guitarists Phil Hilborne and Jamie Humphries (veterans of the hit Queen retrospective “We Will Rock You” and the Australian Pink Floyd Show, respectively), keyboardist Brian Chatton (Phil Collins and Meatloaf), keyboard/woodwind player David Boruff (Madonna, Chicago) and Australian drummer Adam Troughear.

Rocking the mics, Shaun Williamson (lead singer, King Karma, Spanish vocalist Jose Manzano, Katrina Chester (star of the off-Broadway smash “Love, Janis”), Elizabeth Eagan and star lead vocalist Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, back to sing that band’s greatest hits and more.

The nearly three-hour show reworks indelible songs of the most highly regarded era in rock: the Doors’ “Light My Fire” and “Riders on the Storm.” Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” and “Mercedes Benz.” Jimi Hendrix masterpieces like “Purple Haze” and “Foxy Lady.” Other rock classics include Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild,” “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes, Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” as well as Three Dog Night’s “One” and “Joy to the World,” sung by Chuck Negron.

The second half of the show offers something never before attempted in the rock ‘n’ roll universe: Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd playing together. All their greatest songs are featured, including Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” “Kashmir” and “Stairway to Heaven,” as well as Pink Floyd’s “Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” This is a carefully crafted meeting of the titans - a loving vision of what might have been.

Behind the scenes, Bowen assembled a world-class production team to mount “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience.” They include promotions manager and founder of Rainbow Ticketmasters, Lou Dickstein; lighting designers Bryan Hartley and Phil Ealy; art designer Ed Unitsky; and sound mixer Seth Goldman. Collectively, these experts have worked with the top acts in rock ‘‘n’’ roll: Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Kiss, Elton John, Van Halen and David Bowie to name just a few.

Great as the bands were in the ‘60's and early ‘70's, they were handicapped by primitive light and sound. For “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience,” Bowen and his team have no such problems. Six truckloads of intelligent LED lighting, lasers, pyrotechnics, an overhead helium-filled zeppelin with two screens and five additional towering hi-def video screens are all backed up by an EAW Quad 225,000-watt surround sound system.

Bowen is in a unique position to oversee “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience.” A veteran producer/promoter of at least 1,500 concerts, Bowen has seen and worked with such immortals as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues, Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Three Dog Night, and Rod Stewart, to name a few. But he sees this project as the culmination of a life’s work.

Says Bowen, “These legends represent the best rock and pop music ever created and, turning back the hands of time, with an average ticket price under $40.00.” Adding, “If we do our job right, this re-creation will be a night to remember, a concert event and experience for multiple generations, as we tour the nation.”

“Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience” will kick off its national tour at the Mobile Civic Center Arena on Wednesday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the show go on sale on this Friday, July 11 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets prices are as follows: $17.50, $24.50, $37.50, $49.50, and $98 (VIP seating). Tickets for children 12 and under are $7.00 (available only in the $17.50 ticket section). Tickets can be purchased at the Mobile Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. To charge by phone, call 251-434-0033 or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com.