Surviving Members of Morphine to Play UCCPA on Saturday, June 27

Unity, Maine – June, 2009 – On Saturday, June 27, the surviving members of Morphine, one of the most innovative bands in rock n’ roll history, will perform at the Unity College Centre for the Performing (UCCPA) Arts in Unity, Maine.

The former members of Morphine, performing as Colley, Deupree & Lyons, will complete their final United States performance before traveling to Italy where they will perform in commemoration the passing 10 years ago of frontman Mark Sandman. They were about to release their fifth studio album “The Night on January 31,” which is all the more poignant given Mark's Sandman's unexpected and sudden death, when in July 1999 while performing in Palestrina, Italy, Sandman collapsed onstage with a fatal heart attack at the age of 47.

Mark Sandman (1952-1999)

Morphine is an unusually interesting band who have always stood apart from their peers with their distinctive bluesy rock 'n' roll sound described variously as low-rock and noir jazz-rock. Comprising of Jerome Dupree on drums, Dana Colley on tenor and baritone sax, and the enigmatic Mark Sandman on vocals and two-string, Morphine have always strived to forge their own musical path, hence the absence of any guitars in the band and Sandman's trademark wry and detached vocals. Their third album, the critically lauded Cure For Pain was their breakthrough album and saw them going beyond their cult status and selling an impressive 300,000 copies.

So what is the future of Morphine without their unique singer-songwriter? The new band will be touring with Deupree, Colley and is now featuring Jeremy Lyons, who has entertained thousands on the streets of the Crescent City, armed with no more than his voice and National guitar. He is widely respected as an impeccable slide and finger-style guitarist, and as a very strong singer with a voice of his own.

Some Morphine Songs on You Tube

Cure for Pain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=985JGeGq_tc&feature=PlayList&p=9555C54FD826C79F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

The Saddest Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJH4hXWuV_I&feature=PlayList&p=9555C54FD826C79F&index=0&playnext=1

Honey White

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXnGxASoXn0&feature=PlayList&p=9555C54FD826C79F&index=6

Since Hurricane Katrina, Jeremy Lyons relocated with his family to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will now step in to once again bring that smoke-filled bar and shots of single-malt scotch sound of Morphine back for a tribute to Mark for one memorable night at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts, Depot Street in Unity on Saturday, June 27th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased on www.unitymaine.org and at the door.

Call 207 948-SHOW for latest update or email show@unitymaine.org

The Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts is located at 42 Depot Street (off Route 202) in Unity, Maine. Tickets are available online at www.unitymaine.org/theater/ ; at the Music Gallery, Waterville; Crosstrax Restaurant, Unity; Cobbossee Coffee, Hallowell; Java Joe’s, Augusta; The Old Mill Pub, Skowhegan; 948-SHOW: or www.unitymaine.org.

For more information contact John Sullivan, General Manager, 207 948-SHOW, or by e-mail jsullivan@unity.edu.

Free parking is available.

Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources. Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.