Bloc Party's Russell Lissack to Join Ash on Tour

They may well be on an extended break, but Bloc Party guitarist Russell Lissack has been asked to join Northern Irish trio Ash as second guitarist on their forthcoming April UK tour. Bloc Party wound down all activity last year when frontman Kele Okereke decided to concentrate on solo and Lissack focused on his side project Pin Me Down.

The invitation to join Ash on tour will have a special meaning for Lissack -- in his youth the guitarist was once part of an Ash covers band.

Speaking to NME, Lissack explained how he was approached by Ash singer-guitarist Tim Wheeler [pictured] when he learned of the Bloc Party guitarist's availability.

He said: "As soon as they called me I was really excited. I guess the only weird part would be spending so much time with people I don't really know. I'm not sure how that will work out, but we seem to have got on well so far."

Ash play:

Southampton University (April 19)
Cambridge Junction (April 20)
Norwich Waterfront (April 21)
Birmingham Irish Centre (April 23)
Leeds Metropolitan University (April 24)
Newcastle O2 Academy (April 25)
Glasgow O2 ABC (April 27)
Manchester Academy 2 (April 28)
Bristol O2 Academy (April 30)
Brighton Concorde (May 1)
Oxford O2 Academy (May 2)
London Electric Ballroom (May 4)