The American guitarist Steve Morse was the founder of the band Dixie Drags and from 1994 to 2022 was Deep Purple‘s guitarist. He left the British group last year to take care of his wife who is battling cancer. Now the musician announced that he is reactivating the Steve Morse Band and already has some scheduled tour dates for the United States.
The shows will happen next April and May and will feature Dave LaRue and Van Romaine. “This mini tour is us getting back to what made us the happiest, musically. Working with friends you know and trust, playing snippets of the best part of your lives together is too much fun to call ‘work’!”
“We are very excited to be coming back and playing here, since we formed the foundation of the music touring and playing this town!”
Steve Morse Band 2023 tour dates
April
- 22 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head
- 23 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theater
- 24 – Alexandria, VA – Birchmere
May
- 25 – Homer, NY – Homer Center for the Arts
- 26 – Oakmont, PA – Oaks Theatre
- 27 – Lititz, PA – Mickey’s Blackbox
- 28 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club
At first Deep Purple had said that Steve Morse would step back from touring to take care of his wife for one year but then it was announced that he wouldn’t be a member of the band anymore.
“Deep Purple announces that Steve Morse will be stepping back from the band, having been its guitarist for more than a quarter of a century. Steve’s personal circumstances have made it impossible for him to commit to the band’s schedule throughout 2022 and beyond. A few months ago, Steve openly shared with the band´s fans the sad fact that his wife, Janine, is battling cancer and, in his own words, ‘I simply must be there with her,’” The statement said.
Morse joined the Deep Purple in 1994 and recorded eight studio albums: “Purpendicular” (1996), “Abandon” (1998), “Bananas” (2003), “Rapture of the Deep” (2005), “Now What?!” (2013), “Infinite” (2017), “Whoosh!” (2020) and “Turning to Crime” (2021).
Simon McBride is the new guitarist of the band for almost a year already.