Hoping to compete for the attention of classic rock fans this summer, three well-known groups are teaming up for what is being called a "budget-priced tour." That's good news for some concert goers who have to weigh their desire to see their favorite classic groups with the associated costs during tough economic times.

Concert tickets are not generally known for their bargain status these days, with some shows demanding $100 and up for good vantage points away from the far reaches of the nose-bleed sections.

The classic rock trio will start in Albuquerque, NM on May 13th and take them through 30 shows in 30 cities around the U.S. They will wrap up after two months on the road with a final performance in St. Louis on July 11th, making for a shorter outing than the recently-announced Def Leppard/Poison /Cheap Trick tour which starts a month later but does not conclude until September.

Ticket prices are said to be as low as the $13.50 range, with Styx veteran Tommy Shaw reporting that the low prices are "our own personal Rock 'n' Roll Stimulus package."

As part if the lead-up to the summer tour, Shaw and REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin collaborated on a new single entitled "Can't Stop Rockin'." The new track is scheduled to start airing on radio stations sometime this month.

Cronin, speaking a little bit about the difficult and unusual times we are going through currently said, "The world is going through a weird phase, and everybody needs music now more than ever. We all need to join our friends, pool our resources, combine our energies, because there is power in people coming together. That spirit has brought REO and Styx together to write, record and tour together, and celebrate it all with the greatest fans in America."

Some of that may be the typical hype you might hear from someone about to embark on a tour, but I think he makes a good point about the need for music and the power of people coming together. These are strange times, and it seems that family and friends may be the only things that can be counted upon these days, and music offers many fans an escape - if only temporary - from the madness we are seeing around us lately.