Boston Punkers Explosion light out on Coast-To-Coast Tour; 'Black Tape' due in stores on October 5th

NEW YORK (Virgin Records) - Virgin recording group The Explosion has announced details of a nationwide summer tour, heralding the upcoming release of their eagerly anticipated label debut. "BLACK TAPE" - the Boston-based punk powerhouse's second full-length collection - will be in stores nationwide on October 5th. The first single will be "Here I Am."

The Explosion will support acclaimed hard-rockers Burning Brides on their 20-city coast-to-coast trek, kicking off this Thursday - August 5th - at Portland, Oregon's Ash Street Saloon, with dates running though an August 31st appearance at Atlanta's Echo Lounge (see attached itinerary). "RED TAPE", a custom-packaged EP limited to 2,000 copies, will be available at all shows, as well as via the band's www.theexplosion.net website.

Formed in 1998 by singer Million Dollar Matt Hock and guitarist Dave Walsh, The Explosion have established a reputation as one of America's roughest, toughest punk rock 'n' roll outfits. In 2000, the band unleashed three-count'em-three independent releases - their self-titled debut EP and "FLASH FLASH FLASH" album (both on the influential Jade Tree label), followed by "STEAL THIS," a five-tracks-in-nine-minutes EP. "FLASH FLASH FLASH" earned The Explosion a bounty of well-deserved critical acclaim, including acknowledgement as one of Spin's 20 Best Albums of 2000.

The furious fivesome - whose roster also includes guitarist Sam Cave, bassist Damian Genuardi, and drummer Andrew Black - have been a relentless touring machine throughout their career, hitting the U.S. and Europe as both headline act as well as supporting such like-minded outfits as Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros, Sick Of It All, Avail, Social Distortion, Alkaline Trio, the Queers, and Jets To Brazil.