Beyond Fear, the Ohio-based band fronted by former Judas Priest/Iced Earth and current Yngwie Malmsteen singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, will support Queensryche on the following Mexican tour dates:

April 25 - Monumental Monterrey - Monterrey, Mexico
April 26 - Gimnasio Rodrigo M. Quevedo - Chihuahua, Mexico

Owens recently worked with Queensryche guitarist Michael Wilton on demo recordings for the new Soulbender album (Wilton's side project). One of the demo cuts can currently be heard on the Soulbender MySpace page.

As previously reported, Owens is currently taking part in a real-life rock-band contest at Sadie Rene's in North Canton, Ohio. Every week, three professional musicians, serving as judges, judges will evaluate bassists, guitarists, and drummers. Canton-Akron's Rock 106.9 is sponsoring the contest. The radio station provides a list of songs the musicians should be ready to play, including songs by Megadeth, Godsmack Kiss and others. Click here for a full list and more details.

"Sadie's and 106.9's asked if I'd do it, and I said hell yeah," Owens told D.X. Ferris of the Cleveland Scene. "The winner will go in the studio and do a song with me. All in fun. . . This is a fun thing to do."

[Source: Blabbermouth.net via Robert of Rock N Roll Cola]