Average White Band News

AWB News
05/23/08	Scottish Shows Selling Out The AWB shows at the Montrose Music Festival and Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh are sold out. Tickets for the ABC Theatre in Glasgow are almost gone. Any of our fans wishing to attend one of the shows in Scotland should look into the Inverness show.

6/26/07	AWB Loses a Great Fan We received some very sad and shocking news this week. One of AWB's biggest fans, Tim Nixon, 45, from Bowie, Maryland, passed away from a heart attack on June 19. Tim, a paralegal for the Department of Veteran's Affairs was a constant fixture at all our Washington, DC area shows . The DC area is one of AWB's biggest fan bases, with many hard core AWB devotees, but we'd be hard pressed to find a more enthusiastic fan than Tim . Tim would show up at shows waving a Scottish flag, dancing and pumping his fists from the first song to the last. His enthusiasm was infectious. Tim purchased every piece of Average White Band memorabilia issued, and even had a room in his house devoted to the band. His commitment to AWB was cited, along with several other fans in this article in the Washington Post. We will surely miss him and his smiling face at our future DC area gigs. Our sympathies to Tim's family and friends. We were all fortunate to have gotten to know him over the years.

6/21/07	New dates for the Fall have been added.

5/22/07	We've added some new items to the merchandise page; AWB watches, along with prints of Alan's band portraits .

4/23/07	We'd like to thank everyone for their messages of concern and support after last week's incident of the stage collapsing in West Palm Beach. Fortunately no one was hurt. Read the initial report here, and the latest story from the Palm Beach Sun-Sentinel

4/5/07	New Tour Dates ave been posted, as well as Alan's latest White Page entry

1/11/07	Alan's latest White Page entry

11/16/06	A new White Page from Alan

7/5/06	The new CD is here. Soul & The City contains 13 AWB favorites recorded live at B.B. Kings in NYC. You can order it here

4/7/06	Summer Tourdates have been added

3/17/06	We've opened the AWB Download Store. Now you can purchase selected AWB CDs as individual tracks or entire albums in mp3 format.

2/25/06	New Tourdates have been added, including Japan and the UK

12/21/05	We've made a few minor updates to the site. We've added listings of Onnie's, Alan's, and Klyde's stage setup on the Musician's page . There's also a link to a new interview with Alan for Bass Guitar Magazine.

10/29/05	Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, The Safe Harbor event scheduled for November 5 in West Palm Beach, FL has been postponed. The promoters are looking at rescheduling the event for the months of February or March 2006.

8/26/05	AWB's Live set from B.B. Kings, recorded earlier this Summer, will be broadcast on XM Radio Channel 60, on Monday, September 5, at 6:40 PM EST. If you aren't an XM subscriber, you can get a free 3 day trial here

7/28/05	The Greatest & Latest CD is finally available for download at the Apple iTunes Music Store. You can purchase individual tracks for .99 or the entire CD for just $9.99 FYI: The iTunes Music Store also has most of the available AWB catalogue for download HERE

07/10/05	We've recieved a couple of emails asking about a gig at The MeadowBrook in Auburn Hills, MI that had been scheduled for June 6. This one took us all by surprise since we were never booked for this show. We looked into it a little further and here is the full story: Earlier this year, we had been in negotiations to do a series of five shows with Hall & Oates, which would have taken place last week. The dates never panned out for us, but Hall and Oates went ahead with the tour with another support act. As it turns out, Daryl Hall took ill last week and had to cancel last week’s shows, the Meadowbrook being one of them. It seems that somehow, AWB's name was still on the billing for this show, although we knew nothing about it until now. We hope this clears up any misunderstanding.

04/08/05	The Tour dates page has been updated

03/16/05	We've added a couple of new AWB merchandise items to the AWB Online Store. First, there's everyone's favorite, a keychain that plays a 10 second snippet of "Pick Up The Pieces". All the guys in the band carry these so when we check into a hotel and the desk clerk says " AWB, oh yeah, how does that song go?" we no longer have to stand in the lobby whistling, we just whip out our keychains. The other item is back by popular demand; the AWB fleece vest. They sold very well on this last run, but we have a couple dozen left. They come in black and green, and if you order a vest, you get a copy of the latest CD "AWB: The Best 1988-2003" absolutely free, while supplies last.

3/8/05	Alan has posted a new White Page and we've updated the Tour Dates Page.

2/14/05	BBC Radio Scotland's half hour feature programme about the White Album, presented by Davie Scott, will be aired on the 1st of March at 11.30 [UK time] and repeated on Sunday the 6th at 17.05. Interviews with Alan Gorrie and Arif Mardin are a real treat. Tune in live or click the "listen again" button on line at: BBC Radio Scotland

2/12/05	On April 19, Liquid 8 Records will release AWB Greatest and Latest. Initially released in 2004 as AWB-The Best -1988-2003 , this collection spans 16 years of AWB at its best and is culled from their last four albums, featuring guest appearances by Chaka Khan, Daryll Hall, Alex Ligertwood and Ronnie Laws, Also included on this CD are two rare live performances, plus two brand new tracks not contained on the original release, including a very special “Nu Jazz Mix” of their smash hit “Work To Do”. In addition to the bonus tracks, every copy of Greatest and Latest comes with a DVD containing interviews, AWB history, and never before seen concert and in-studio footage. Listen to a preview of "Work To Do" (Nu Jazz Mix) Windows Media Player version or RealPlayer version

1/10/05	The AWB/ Rock 'N' Soul shirts have been removed from the merchandise page. All remaing shirts have been sent to the South Asian tsunami relief effort . They are desperately in need of clothing, and every little bit helps, so we are doing our small part by sending about 150 shirts. You can make a donation as well by clicking here

12/24/04	Alan Gorrie has posted a new White Page

8/26/04	•• AWB IMPOSTER ALERT •• Average White Band would like to warn you that it would be wise to question anyone claiming to be Alan Gorrie, especially in the state of Florida. It appears that longtime fraudster and identity thief David Lovins is on the move again, posing as Alan, and getting into peoples' lives. His usual modus operandum is to get hold of, or close to some female who buys his act and provides him with friendship/accommodation/ affair/etc. to legitimise his cover and provide connections to some group of friends who can then be fleeced. This has been going on since the seventies, and he has been in jail in Florida at least once for larceny and firearms crimes, and has been active in California, Indiana and other states in the past. He is obviously very good, as all conmen are, and has a lot of AWB knowledge to back up his claims. Alan is currently on tour as most of you know, and does not as a rule approach people nor brandish his identity anywhere, so beware of anyone claiming to be him.

8/12/04	Check out the new slide show from the 1st leg of the Rock 'N' Soul Revue

7/19/04	Well folks, you asked for it, you've seen it at the shows, now it's finally available on the website: The Average White Band Rock 'N' Soul Revue T-shirt. The special online price is only $20 ($5 less than at Rock "N Soul shows) and it's available for purchase now, along with the latest AWB cap. You can view them both on the AWB Merch Page

7/1/04	The new CD: AWB The Best 1988-2003 is now available for online purchase

7/1/04	The Rock 'N' Soul 2004 Revue is well underway . Please check the Tour Dates page for showtimes. You don't want to show up late and miss AWB

4/20/2004	Read about the upcoming compilation CD, entitled AWB: The Best 1988-2003. This release will be available for sale online and at AWB shows this Summer.

4/20/2004	More news on the Rock 'N Soul 2004 Revue. The best seats can be had by accessing the Michael McDonald Music Today online ticketing page. Many of the venues offer presale tickets to fans. These are the best seats in the house, but you have to act quickly as the presale only lasts for five days before tickets go on sale to the general public. The presale page is updated frequently so you might want to bookmark the page and check back often.

3/14/2004	We've dotted all the "i"s and crossed the "t"s, and so now we're ready to post the dates for the first leg of the Rock N' Soul 2004 Revue, with Hall & Oates and Michael McDonald. Some venues are already selling tickets, so it would be advisable to purchase yours as soon as you can. If you plan on attending more than one show, it might be wise to joing the Hall and Oates All Access Club. They have selected seats for pre-sale. The second leg will include the Midwest and West Coast. and will run from mid August through Labor Day. Don't expect that those dates to be announced for at least a month. This promises to be a lot of fun with some great musical surprises. We're all looking forward to a great summer. The Seattle and California shows that we had to cancel to do this tour will hopefully be rescheduled for sometime in the fall.

12/24/03	New Tour Dates for 2004 have been posted

12/24/03	Alan takes a brief look at AWB's 2003 in a new White Page. Check it out here

10/9/03	The dates for AWB's Autumn European Tour have been posted.The band will be in Germany, Holland, England, Scotland and, for the first time ever; Denmark.

7/15/03	After having both our recent gigs around the New York area cancelled due to a rainout in Plainfield, N.J., and a venue closure in Englewood, N.J., you city slickers finally have a chance to see the band at its best, and in the best possible venue - BB King's - next Saturday, the 19th July. It will be the final gig of the tour, so come join us and help us to celebrate the finish of this coast-to-coast extravaganza that we have been on for the past month.... plus we'll be previewing the new CD, Living In Colour, and will have signed copies for sale at the show. Miss this one at your peril........you will regret it for years to come!

6/17/03	Bad news for AWB fans in Pasadena: The June 22 Twin Palms Cabaret show has been cancelled. The fate of the show hung in the balance all day yesterday, but at the end of the day, the promoter pulled out. We had been looking forward to coming to Pasadena after several years absence, but unfortunately, the promoter had other ideas. We suggest that you check out the Oxnard or Highland shows, or the Viejas show (with Al Green).

6/4/03	Those AWB fans living in the often maligned and ignored states in Middle America, REJOICE! AWB is coming to you ! Dates in Iowa, Montana, Missouri, and Nebraska have just been added. Come out and show your support for funk and soul in The Heartland. If these shows are a success, we'll be back there on a regular basis. We've also added a show in a little burg known as New York City. Check the Tour Dates page. . .

5/7/03	Alan and Onnie taped an interview this week for KBSR (88.5 FM in Santa Ana, CA) , to promote this Saturday's Galaxy Theatre show. I'm told they discussed "Living In Colour" at some length. The interview will run Thursday at 12 noon PST (a short form) and Saturday at 3-6 PM PST (the whole thing). If you live outside of the station's range and would still like to catch the interview, the station does live streaming from their website,

5/4/03	On Thursday, May 8, between 22.00 and 23.00 GMT, (that's 5PM EST for you Yanks) BBC 6 music will be playing an archive concert from AWB from 1979. You can listen to this via the web at the BB6 link .

5/1/03	New Summer Tour Dates have been posted.

4/15/03	The April 23 show with TOP at the John Harms Ctr in Englewood, NJ has been cancelled, due to the venue closing

4/14/03	You've waited patiently (most of you) and now it's finally here; AWB's first studio album in six years "Living In Colour" will be released April 22. This special Preview Edition will not be available in stores, only at AWB shows and here on the web site. If you'd like to order your copy, check out the AWB Merch Page.

4/8/03	We've just finished revamping the AWB Merchandise section of the web site. You will now be able to make purchases using your credit card securely. We hope this will make the online purchase experience a bit more efficient. Of course, the main reason for this upgrade is In anticipation of the release of the new CD (look for an official announcement next week), We know some of you are anxious to get your hands on this item, and it will not be available in stores initially, so we wanted to give you a chance to get a hold of it if you're not going to be able to make it to a show in the very near future. The release date is looking like April 22nd (which is our first show of the Spring tour), but, if you're really the impatient type,,you'll be able to pre-order your copy after the offiicial announcement next week, which means as soon as we get our shipment we'll send yours right out, which means you may even have it before the 22nd. Anyway, check out the updated merch page, give it a test drive, and let us know what you think.

12/12/2002	If you were at a recent AWB show and were admiring some of the fabulous AWB merchandise, but decided to put off taking some of it home with you, now may be your last chance. We have a limited supply of 30th Anniversary caps and black shirts. THESE WILL NOT BE SOLD AT ANY MORE SHOWS !! When they are gone that's it (you only have a 30th anniversary once). We also have AWB two-tone baseball shirts and AWB visors. We'll try to get some pix of the stuff up on the merch page, but we wanted to let the hard core fans in on this as soon as possible, in case someone wanted to get something in time for Christmas. If you're interested, you can contact the AWB Merch Goddess at awbmerch @aol, or call 1- 866- 505- SOUL (7685).

9/21/02	AWB Welcomes New Member, Klyde Jones
	After thirteen years with AWB, Eliot Lewis has left the band to pursue other musical opportunities. We all wish Eliot the best, and we look forward to hearing where his new musical direction will take him. The Average White Band welcomes Klyde Jones to the lineup to share lead singing duties with Alan Gorrie. Although fans of AWB may not realize it, they have heard Klyde perform with the band before. In 1997, he sang background vocals on the Soul Tattoo album, was featured vocal on “Every Beat of My Heart, and co-wrote “When We Get Down To It” with Alan. Klyde, who will also contribute on keyboards and bass, says he jumped at the chance to join the band. “The style that AWB plays is the most natural thing to me, so I’m thrilled to have gotten this chance based on who I am, and not having to fit into some other mold.” As a kid in Saginaw, Michigan, Klyde grew up listening to old Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Al Green albums. “Though I’m only in my mid- 30’s, I guess I have an ‘old soul,’” he says. Inspired by these R & B legends, he began writing his own material. Success came knocking when one of his demo tapes caught the attention of Daryl Hall. “He called and offered me the opportunity to come to his studio and record, and was supportive in every way.” Klyde met Alan, a longtime friend of Daryl’s, at a party at the singer’s home - Alan played bass and sang backing vocals on Hall’s solo tour. “Once I had established a relationship with Daryl, Alan came with it!” he says. “After we met I went to see AWB and was so impressed by the pure R&B/funk intensity that they kept up through the entire set. I thought back then, “this would be a fun gig!” When Hall & Oates were ready to tour again, Klyde was invited to join them on stage. He worked with the duo for the next three years and says, ”I learned a great deal and had a lot of fun.” This was followed by a period of working around New York City doing sessions, club gigs, writing and producing for several recordings, including jazz guitarist Larry Corryell’s Fallen Angel, and AWB’s Soul Tattoo. “I was so fortunate to have been surrounded by great players.” Off the road, Klyde, his wife, Kelly and their two dogs live in upstate New York “in a little house on a little lake” where he goes fishing, is an avid reader and is pretty handy with a hammer. “I was really affected by Carl Sagan’s book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle In The Dark, he says. In it, Sagan demystifies common superstitions and beliefs, some that we don’t even realize we accept as fact, and changed my approach to religious, political, and social matters.” When he bought his home several years ago, it required extensive renovation, but Klyde was up for the job. He did everything from building the cabinets and bookshelves to installing the electrical wiring. He reports, “When it became too expensive to hire a plumber, I took a plumbing class and put the whole bathroom in by myself!” Though he tends to downplay his many talents, audiences will soon see and hear how much soul Klyde Jones brings to Average White Band. One thing’s for sure, he’s right where he belongs.

7/31/02	Good friend and legendary Tower of Power bassist is recovering from a much needed liver transplant. Funds are still being collected to pay for the operation , as well as post-operative care. For more info click on the link below .

6/20/02	Alan 's latest White Page has been posted

5/17/02	Due to circumstances beyond everyone's control, the June 4 show at Ollie's in Ascot has been cancelled. Unfortunately, the club is undergoing renovations and they will not be completed in time. The show has been replaced by a gig in Redding at The Jazz Club. More info as it becomes available

4/27/02	Summer Tour Dates Posted

4/23/02	We know we said that the new CD would be released this Summer, but things don't always go as planned. The way it looks now, we'll have the CD finished by Fall, but to whet your appetite, we've added a couple of sneak preview cuts .

4/3/02	Two new California shows have been added around the May 11 Newport Beach Jazz Fest.,so if you live in California and you missed the band at the Key Club last month, here's your chance. .

3/25/02	The tour dates for the UK and Holland Spring tour have been posted.

3/24/02	The new AWB DVD: "Tonight- The Average White Band Live In Concert" is being released by Image Entertainment on March 26. The DVD includes interviews and backstage footage. The DVD will not be sold at shows, but you can order your copy here.

12/29/01	New Dates for 2002 have been posted

11/27/01	Don't say we didn't warn you! The AWB Limited Edition "2001: A Funk Odyssey" black T-shirts are almost gone. If you were thinking about getting one, now's the time . . We also have some gray T's, mousepads and black and white caps, but they're going fast. Call 1 866-505-SOUL (7685) send an email to: awbmerch@aol.com

9/2/01	Shortly, we'll be unveiling the AWB Fan Photos page. But first we need some photos! If you have any pics that you'd like to submit, please read the guidelines below: * Email submissions to photos@averagewhiteband.com. * Save the image as JPEG ( or .jpg ) directly from your camera or scanner software. * Send only one photo per email note. * Include a caption in the email note. * Identify as many people in the photo as possible. * Ensure that the photographer's name is in the email note. * Send file as an email "Attachment", using a tool with a paperclip icon or the word "attach". You'll receive an email acknowledgement when your photo has been posted.

8/31/01	New Fall 2001 Tour Dates have been posted

7/31/01	Brian Dunne Bio Filling the very large (and often untied) shoes of departing drummer Adam Deitch (who is on tour with John Scofield) is the extremely able Brian Dunne. Many of you have already seen Brian in AWB’s drum chair since he joined the tour last month, and have written with your accolades asking, "who is that guy?" Asked and answered.... Brain Dunne was destined to become a drummer. The Long Island native explains, "I had two older brothers who played drums, so I was always around it...I really had no choice!" By age ten, young Brian was drumming along with Chaka Khan records. Later, one of his brothers introduced him to jazz and he came to idolize drummers Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Steve Jordan, "and of course, AWB’s Steve Ferrone". Although he earned a music education degree from Long Island University ("I’m certified to teach grades K-12"), Brian has yet to set foot in a classroom. Instead, he has worked steadily in R&B, jazz, and rock for such artists as Alana Davis, J.T. Taylor (of Kool & The Gang), jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb, Michael Brecker, Bob James, Michael Franks, and Spyro-Gyra’s Jay Beckenstein. Brian can be heard on the soundtrack of Paramount Picture’s Lucky Numbers, and also on TV’s Living Single and Rude Awakening. With Alana Davis he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Brian and his wife Fabiana, (a native of Brazil), make their home in Brooklyn. A self-proclaimed sports fanatic, Brian’s favorite teams are the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons (this, from a life-long New Yorker!) Perhaps Alan and Onnie can get him interested in Scottish football, because Fred and Eliot sure aren’t! Sandra Sauder

4/16/01	AWB will be making their annual appearance on the Tom Joyner Morning Show on Friday, May 4, live from Cleveland, Ohio. The Tom Joyner show is the largest nationally syndicated urban radio show. Check out what station near you will be carrying the show

1/18/01	New additions to the Musician's page: Alan Gorrie's comments on the bass line transcription for "Pick Up The Pieces", and Freddy V uncovers the mysteries of his stage set up

12/11/00	We've added saxophone and bass/chord charts for "Pick Up The Pieces". You can view them online or downloadl them in PDF format. Go to the Muscican's page

7/29/00	We've revamped the Discography page, so it now includes more detailed information about each AWB release. There is also a link so each available CD can be purchased through CD NOW The Photo page has also been given a facelift. We've added a bunch of photos taken by Eliot Lewis and Dave Brunetto.

3/22/00	Eliot's CD "Get Back What You Give" has been reduced to $11.99.He's also added mp3 sound samples of the CD,