The tour is a tribute to Legendary drummer Buddy Rich and Mr Cater will take to the stage with his 15-piece band to play tunes with origins from the 1960's - no war time classics.

Appearing in Hastings for the first time, the band will be showcasing well known and much requested tunes from Buddies repertoire, including Nowegian Wood, West Side Story and Love For Sale.

Mr Cater, drummer and band leader, said: “It’s important that people in all parts of the UK get to hear what we are doing." “I think of big band music as a little bit of an endangered species, there is not much of it on TV or in the media."

Drummer, Buddy Rich, was one of a kind and at the forefront of the Big Band era and the Pete Cater Band is keen for their performances to be as authentic in style.

Pete Cater’s band has toured throughout the UK and Europe since forming back in 1995, and recently made a cameo appearance on ITV1 special Ronnie Corbett’s Comedy Britain.

The tour kicks off on 28th of September in Southend and then 29th at The White Rock Theatre in Hastings.

The rockers will return to Fremantle, the home town of band members Andrew and Jon Farriss, in December to play at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, where the new lead singer will perform for the very first time.
"It's exciting to have the guys play their last show of 2011 and the first show of their new line-up, featuring their 'soon to be announced' frontman, here in Perth," promoter John Zaccaria recently said.

J.D. Fortune, the bands second frontman since the death of Michael Hutchence in 1997, has left the band and took to Twitter last month claiming, "I have not been invited to be a part of INXS 'New Music'."
Fortune joined the group in 2005, replacing Jon Stevens, after winning a reality talent show Rock Star: INXS.

The band's new album, The Point of a View is set to be released next week.
Supported by Grinspoon, the concert on December 3rd will also mark the opening of the Worlds Festival at Esplanade Park which will run alongside the biggest international sailing event of the year.
"INXS are really pushing themselves to make this happen," Mr Zaccaria added.

Perth 2011 will be bigger than the official sailing regatta which is scheduled for next year's Olympic Games and will take place along the WA coast from Bathers Bay to Leighton Beach.
"Compared to this, the Olympics is a tiny little event, we've got an event here that is literally four times bigger than the Olympics," Perth 2011 event director and American's Cup veteran John Longley said.

If sailors want a shot at achieving gold in London, competing in Perth is mandatory.

Organisers expect to see some of the 1200 athletes, 850 boats, 300 support boats and over 120 other technical boats arriving in the coming weeks to prepare for the choppy conditions served up daily by the Fremantle Doctor.

The Eventscorp executive director David Van Ooran said the 16-day event and corresponding festival is "the grand-daddy of events in terms of positioning, profile and prestige in the sailing world."
Organisers estimate over $40 million in tourism funds are to be made with over 5000 visitors, competitors and support crew expected to travel to Perth for the 16-day event.

His replacement is Jarrod Alexander, former Death By Stereo drummer, and he played his first gig with the band at the 'Welcome to the Black Parade' rockers gig in salt Lake City, Utah.
Mike was fired by the band after he was caught stealing from them after a performance in washington last Thursday.
The bands Guitarist, Frank Iero, posted a statement on the My Chemical Romance official website on Friday explaining he and the rest of the band are "heartbroken" by his actions.
The message read: "Some s**t happened last night and before the blogosphere gets all crazy with false statements and ridiculous opinions we want the true story to come from us ... But please listen close because this is the only time we are ever going to talk about this. The relationship between My Chemical Romance and Michael Pedicone is over. He was caught red handed stealing from the band and confessed to police after our show last night in Auburn, Washington. We are heartbroken and sick to our stomachs over this entire situation.

"The band has no intention of pressing charges or taking this matter any further than we have to. We just want him out of our lives. The people who play in this band are a family, and family should not take advantage of each other like he did."

It is not yet known whether Jarrod will continue to drum for My Chemical Romance on their current 'Honda Civic Tour' - which sees them playing alongside Blink 182 - or if he will become a permanent member of the group.

The keyboardist and composer would, in essence, be up against guys like Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock and Cecil Taylor who probably produces many more notes with his solos and has been around much longer.

Chick has toured tirelessly over the years with many different musicians, this time he will be bringing Return To Forever IV.

"I've got to get my note meter," he said from a bus on which he eternally travels. "It's an interesting question, and I'd love to have the answer."

Over the past 40 years Chick Corea's own bands are legendary and ear-overwhelming with cutting-edge Jazz.

His career started as a sideman for Stan Getz and Miles Davis, this was before he co-founded a group with the great sax player Anthony Braxton.

Putting Return To Forever on hold for a many years while he explored other musical obsessions, he is now back with his array of electric keyboards and exhibishionist collaborators. Now 70 years young and is in the midst of something like an energetic resurgence.

The current edition of Return To Forever includes bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White. Frank Gambale, who had spent years in the early Corea's Elektric Band who also recorded To The Stars with Corea, will be playing Guitar and one time Frank Zappa sideman/Mahavishnu Orchestra Violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, who has never tourred with Corea will be performing.

"He's a favorite of mine," Corea said of Ponty before saying that he does not consider himself to be the leader of the group. "I'm the founder but this is a quintet of master musicians. Everyone is playing their hearts out."

After all this time and 16 Grammy Awards later "Has Corea altered his percussive approach to the Piano and other Keyboard instruments?" "I usually don't look at it that way," he said. "I've been rolling along on a string of making music from year to year, as we go through a techno robot '1984' civilization."

The Return To Forever IV kicks off this Saturday.

This challenging event is going to be performed by students from two Taiko drumming groups and will start at 9am.

The young students will be drumming  throughout the day and night. They really want to do all they can to make life much happier for other children in Japan. They will be sleeping in the new senior school building whilst the drum-a-thon takes place.

All funds raised will be used to help clean up and support families who have lost their homes in the earthquake and tsunami affected areas of Japan.

If you would like to help in any way and put a smile on the young Japanese kids’ faces, you can call the school on 9876 6066 to make a donation.

Brookes, 42, collapsed after a seizure on stage during a gig in the  USA last summer. He has battled back to full health from the cancer and played a sell out show in Valencia recently, The Charlatans have also planned a tour of the far east.

Jon recently said “I’m feeling great, fighting fit and on the mend. The world came crashing down around me when I collapsed on stage.

‘‘But with the love and support from my family and friends, I’ve refocused and I’m really excited about the future.

‘‘I’m still having check-ups and precautionary treatment, but things are looking up.”

With a strong determination to get back to his pashion - playing the drums - he has undergone weeks of  radiation and chemotherapy to tackle the tumour and regain his health.

“We’re back playing festivals and have just returned from Valencia in Spain, and now we’re off to Indonesia,” he said. “It’s a really great feeling being back out there, travelling, playing, and seeing the world.

“I’ve got a new lust for life, a lust for drumming, I just can’t get enough.

 “That was one of the biggest fears when I was diagnosed, that I might not be able to play at the same level. But here I am.

“In terms of health, I feel good, it’s just a case of taking it steady and maybe going to bed a bit earlier than I used to. The band is really on top form, we are going to be recording a new album, and we’re already thinking of new material.

“Like all bands, when we’re out on the road we want to be in the studio, and when we’re back in the studio we want to be playing live.”

Jon also plans to bring help to young bands in the Midlands with his own label 'One Beat Records' and has also set up recording facilities for bands at his JB's rehearsal rooms.

Jon credits his wife Deborah and kids Lola Primrose, 10, Ruby Rose, seven, and two-year-old Coco Dahlia with helping him recover from his illness.

He added: “I’ve always been incredibly close to my family, but I appreciate my wife even more now – she keeps my spirits up and I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Having already surpassed the 100 hours mark (last year he managed 73 hours and 11 minutes) he is aiming to break the current 120 hours record.
Steve said, through his holistic nutritionist Deanne Dietz on Monday at the Burlington Music Centre “I’m feeling amazing,” - he was busy keeping time and counting.

“I’ve had my moments where I go between reality and someplace else, but I always come back,” he joked. “I’m ready to keep going for it and finish it.”

Steve has to play recognizable songs for more than 2 minutes each, no more than a 30 second break in between songs. He can have a 5 minute break every hour - break can be banked.
Dietz has been supporting Gaul since the beginning of the marathon last Friday at 8am - he even sleeps when he does for 2 hours every 24.

Having been on a strict diet of organic suppliments to keep his energy levels high - he is only allowed stimulants i.e. coffee once a day. He has been eating meatballs of flaxseed and oatmeal and also energy balls made from an original recipe by Dietz.

Athletic therapist and part of Gauls medical team, Carolyn Zepf, said the new diet seems to be working really well - his vitals are the same as day one, he's so stable, his skin looks good and he has energy. He does hit a wall for some moments but fortunately they don't last long.

Zepf, along with Kate Stephan and Christina Fogg, check Gaul's vitals every hour and monitor him constantly. Working together for 6 months in preparation for the marathon and going through the three phases of training.

The first stage of training was a foundations one where his muscles were assessed and he was taught to correct his posture to maintain his energy and expend less of it, says Zepf.

He then went through a strengthening phase and then finally an endurance phase.

“There has been such a huge change (from last year),” said Zepf. “It’s been so remarkable, almost like night and day.”

Similar to last year, Gaul arranged for a DJ to keep the music flowing, while live bands periodically joined him on stage to help keep him motivated.

Over last weekend, local bands Freedom Train, CrossTown Traffic and The Top Hats came to jam along with Gaul, as well as Tristan Avakian, guest guitarist from We Will Rock You.

Gaul who beat testicular cancer nearly 17 years ago, decided to take on the record-breaking feat last year to help raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and to help inspire his older sister, Toni Clement, in her own battle against the disease — Clement passed away last year on Dec. 12.

This year, the 40-year-old Burlington resident decided to attempt to break the record once again to keep raising awareness of and funds for cancer.

Setting his goal at $100,000, Gaul has raised more than $6,000 so far.

Last year he did 73 hours - the record is 120 hours - last year he raised $27,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

“I’m anxious. Scared. It’s different this year, knowing what you’re going to go through,” he said. “You just hit those walls. I’ll never forget what it felt like to cross 60 hours last year, and thinking ‘oh my god I have to do this again.’”

Steve however is a true fighter, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was 23 but has now been cancer free for over 10 years. His sister Toni Clement lost her own fight to Para nasal cancer in december and this is the main reason he is raising money for the Society.

When Steve did the Drum-A-Thon last year, Toni said he was loopy - but her courageous battle inspired him, and he’s giving it another shot this year with high hopes. He has been training for the event, practicing a lot and is ready for this years event.

This year he hopes to raise $100,000 for the CCS, wanting to show people that even with one person getting involved can have a huge diffeerence. Raising $27,000 is no mean feat but he has much higher hopes for this year.

Steve said, “Being positive is not always easy. You have to find reasons, look for things to be thankful for, especially when you lose someone as close as your sister.”

Drumming is that outlet for Gaul. The Score Television Network has been broadcasting advertisements of the event, and he says he has had lots of support from the community, from the Burlington teen tour band.

And of course, from his fiancée Casey Stinchcombe and their new daughter, Remi T.

‘T’ was Toni’s nick name.

“I hope she’s looking down, I hope she’s happy. I hope she’s not suffering. I hope she’s up there cheering me on,” he said of his sister.

“Hopefully I’ll see her at the event. You never know where the brain goes.”

The drumathon starts Friday, Aug. 5 at 8 a.m. at the Burlington Music Centre, 2311 New St. in Burlington.

Wishing Steve the best of luck for the event!

Brightly coloured with the lettering 'Andy's' on the sides and at the front below the windscreen.

Built in the early 1970's by Andy Brizio of San Francisco, California, and later in 1974 shipped by John to England where he used to race it around. He actually used it in a Zeppelin video for a track called 'The Song Remains The Same' in 1976.

After John Bonham died - the car was sold and sat for quite some time. The paint and bodywork remained in very good condition but the engine has had to undergo major work by a garage in Dougsport, who usually build racing car engines, to bring the masterpiece of a vehicle back to it's former glory.

Around 11 years ago the car was purchased by Bruce Screen, from Blackheath, who swapped one of his cars for it, and since then it has been sitting in his garage. He has no idea as to the value of the car but said he is too frightened to drive it on the roads.

He wants the classic car to go to a museum or similar so it can be more appreciated by Led Zep fans instead of locked away in a garage gathering dust.

If you have any suggestions - please forward them to Dan's Drum Lessons and we will be more than happy to pass them on to Mr Screen.