September/October tour dates for the Acoustic Outcasts have unfortunately been cancelled. Original headliner Don Dokken bowed out when Global Entertainment’s Robert Hovey, the agent that represents this tour, was caught in Hurricane Katrina and not heard from for days.

Like thousands of other victims, Hovey chose to stay in the New Orleans area and attempted to ride out the storm. And as we all know now, the flooding of the city was more devastating than anyone predicted and with his home and office underwater, Hovey lived through the nightmare, surrounded by the dead and displaced and unable to contact the outside world. Five days after the flood, the band received a cryptic text message on a cell phone from him stating simply “I’m alive.”

During that difficult time, the other artists – myself, Terry Ilous, Charlie Wayne, Kelly Keeling, and JK Northrup - kept the faith, hoped for the best, and worked extremely hard to keep the wheels turning. Several big name artists stepped up to the plate to fill the headline segment. An interim agent was hired to represent the tour, and the artists volunteered to donate their tour income to Hurricane Relief and other charities. But in the end, there was not enough time to properly execute and promote these shows with a lineup change.

We applaud the venues that offered to move ahead with the shows, and appreciate the offers from other artists to participate after Dokken's exit. Thanks to all the fans who have showed their support and encouragement during this process. Also a very special thanks to Robert Hovey & Global Entertainment for fighting nature's wrath and insurmountable odds in an attempt to make this tour happen. It is hoped that these performances can be rescheduled at a later date.
Below are links to the charities the Acoustic Outcasts hoped to help with the proceeds from this tour. Please do whatever you can to make a difference:

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls

That's the official statement that's going out to the media.

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Don Dokken for making these cancellations possible - because of him, I'll be able to spend valuable quality time with my family, work on some new songs, enjoy football season on my own couch, maybe even get one of those new X-Box systems and learn how to play Madden 06. Play with the dogs, ride around on my lawnmower.

I can truly say that Don Dokken is the reason I'm where I am today. And where I'll be for the next month, with the exception of the IronHorse show at Big George's on September 17.

Ronnie and the Acoustic Outcasts, I am sorry to hear this news that the tour has been canceled I was looking forward to getting to hear you play together in the near future. My prayers and thoughts are with Hovey and the other families in this time of healing and devestation.
I am planning to attend a ROCK-4-XMAS... it will be here before we know it. ENJOY YOUR time off.

[Edited on 9-10-2005 by steel2keel]

RK-
Sorry to hear about the Outcasts tour. Enjoy your time relaxing with your family. Now we'll just have to wait for the Rock 4 Xmas shows. Just promise me DD wont become involved in that tour too because Im really looking forward to seeing you in Mass. in November. Take care

Eric

Some have class.
Some don't.

Enjoy your family and your lawnmower, RK.
Write some songs for us!

Sorry to hear that the tour has been cancelled. Take care of yourself RK and have some fun enjoying life with your family and close friends!!

Ron:

I am also sorry to hear that the tour was cancelled please send my thanks to Don also. We were having a benefit for my 2 yr old daughter Makaila who was recently diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatiod Arthrits at you 9/16 gig in Mt Clemens MI. Please pass along my graditude to Mr. Don

Jessie you should post your thanks to Don on his forum at Dokken.net!

I hate bringing up old news but has anyone else seen DD's interview on Glammetal.com?
http://www.glam-metal.com/don_dokken_.html

Here is the one question and answer about the Outcast tour...

GM: Now before the VH1 tour, you were scheduled to go out on the “ Acoustic Outcasts Tour,” What happened?

DD: Nothing to talk about, really. The booking agent who booked the tour was stuck in New Orleans, and we didn’t hear from him in ten days. So I had to cancel.

What a fraud! I hope the tour bombs. And his solo album too. And come to think of it, the new Dokken album too! I think that I get a pretty good idea as to why George and Jeff dont play with him anymore.

Yes I have to agree with everything you have just said there Eric. He definitely is a fraud and an idiot in my opinion!!

That Jerk don't want to work with Ronnie and the other Out cast guys cause he knows that he can't compete with them, cause he knows that Ronnie and the out cast guys are 100% better then he is and he is scared to be booed off the stage and they are all much better looking then DON is . Ronnie you are a hell of alot better with out him he does not deserve to be on the same stage as you . OK I will stop bitchin about it at least for now, but you can bring the OUTCASTS back to Ohio were we all love you. XXXXXXOOOOOOOO TRACEY

Yes I so agree with what you just said Tracey!! That would be awesome if the Outcasts would come back to OHIO!!