German/American heavy metal legends ACCEPT have announced that Shawn Drover, former drummer of MEGADETH, will appear as a "special guest artist" at the opening trio of their 50th-anniversary celebrations. Drover will perform at shows in Kopervik (Norway, May 1), Gothenburg (Sweden, May 3), and Stockholm (Sweden, May 6).
ACCEPT said in a statement: "The one and only drummer Shawn Drover (ex-MEGADETH) will be the first special guest artist for ACCEPT's 50th-anniversary celebrations LIVE! Joining the band for the first three shows in May. An absolute legend and beast of a drummer, we are thrilled to have him join us on stage as part of this very special and unique year."
The appearances open ACCEPT's broader 50th-anniversary European tour comprising 24 headline shows across 11 countries — Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Swedish metallers DYNAZTY and UK newcomers TAILGUNNER serve as support on the tour.
Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann reflected on the milestone: "It's incredible to be celebrating 50 years of ACCEPT, and taking this anniversary tour across Europe makes it even more special. The support from our fans over the decades has been overwhelming."
Alongside the tour, ACCEPT will release a special 50th-anniversary album featuring newly re-recorded classics, rare tracks, and guest appearances including ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello and MR. BIG bassist Billy Sheehan.