The Kinks' Ray Davies Invites Punk/Garage Rock Music Icons the Sonics to Meltdown Fest the Sonics also slated for shows in France, Belgium Tacoma, WA - Punk/garage rock music icons the Sonics are slated to return to Europe for seven tourdates kicking off on May 27th at La Cigale in Paris, France, with a grand finale performance at the prestigious Meltdown Festival hosted this year by The Kinks' Ray Davies in London on June 18th. Since 1993 some of the world most distinguished musicians have been the guest directors of Meltdown. From John Peel through to Massive Attack, via David Bowie, Patti Smith, Morrissey and more, Meltdown has given seminal artists the chance to pick their favourite artists to play and exhibit their work at Southbank Centre. The New York Dolls reunited for Morrissey; Jeff Buckley played his final UK show at Elvis Costello's Meltdown; Nick Cave, Grace Jones and Pete Doherty sang Disney songs with Jarvis Cocker; Patti Smith performed Horses in full for her Meltdown. This festival brings legendary artists to Southbank Centre for a very special week of one-off performances.The Sonics received a personal invitation from 2011 Meltdown host the Kinks' Ray Davies to appear at the Meltdown Festival in London on June 18th. The Sonics complete European tour schedule includes: May 25 La Cigale, 120 bd Rouchechouart, Paris, France - http://www.lacigale.fr May 28 Le 106, 106 Quai Jean de Bethancourt, Rouen, France - http://www.le106.com May 31 Montpellier - TBA June 1 Nuits Sonores Festival, Lyon, France - http://www.nuits-sonores.com June 3 La Sirene, 111 Boulebard Emile Delmas, La Pallice, La Rochelle, France - http://www.la-sirene.fr June 5 Ancienne Belgique, Anspachlaan 110, Brussels, Belgium - http://www.abconcerts.be/en/ June 18 Ray Davies Meltdown Festival, London, UK - http://meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk/ Since the beginning of garage rock, the northwest sound, grunge, or whatever anyone calls it, the Sonics set the precedence and the pace, and the sound that gave to every musician and band that followed the inalienable right to take rock to the edge of the universe, to explore the possibilities, to get out of the rut, experiment, and to scream your guts out, that you have arrived, and to continue that thought. The Sonics have remained the most recognized sounds ever listened to by aspiring musicians and multitudes of fans around the world. Originally from Tacoma, Washington USA, the Sonics are claimed worldwide to be the first punk band, or garage, or hard rock, or alternative, setting the stage for all that would follow. The Sonics are still based in the Northwest USA. Following their early retirement from being the Sonics, they left a legacy and decades of fans who continued to spread the word and the music. Still revered, in late 2007 the Sonics regrouped and reignited on the scene in Brooklyn, New York headlining two sold out shows at the Warsaw. Original members of the Sonics included Bob Bennett, Drums; Larry Parypa, Guitar; Jerry Roslie, keys and lead vocals; Rob Lind, sax, harp and vocals; Andy Parypa, bass;The Sonics today includes: Jerry Roslie keys, lead vocals, Rob Lind, sax, harp and vocals; Larry Parypa, guitar bkg vocals; Ricky Lynn Johnson, drums, and; Freddie Dennis, bass and vocals. Official Sonics Web Site http://www.thesonicsboom.com Sonics Facebook Page http://tinyurl.com/3k6udfv Meltdown Festival http://meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk/