'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford — who is currently on tour with QUEENSRŸCHE — has issued the following update:

"[Lita's husband] Jim [Gillette of NITRO fame] received an extra-special for his birthday last week (November 10). During the show in Houma, [QUEENSRŸCHE singer] Geoff Tate sang him 'Happy Birthday' on stage."

Jim commented: "We are honored and touched that he (Geoff) would do this.

"QUEENSRŸCHE has been the utmost in cool, professional, and hands down most awesome band to tour with. We couldn't have asked for a better situation.

"Geoff is one of a couple singers that inspired me to learn all I could about the human voice. The QUEENSRŸCHE demo with 'Queen of the Reich' changed my life. Without that, I might not have met my wife...I might not be where I am today.

"Geoff, the band, and Susan Tate, the manager, have been more cool to us than we could have imagined.

"Long live the 'RŸCHE!"

Video footage of Lita Ford performing her Top 10 Billboard hit (originally recorded with Ozzy Osbourne) "Close My Eyes Forever" while backed by members of QUEENSRŸCHE on November 10, 2009 in Houma, Lousiana can be viewed below.

QUEENSRŸCHE and Ford have teamed up for over two dozen dates beginning October 15. Lita is hitting the stage during the QUEENSRŸCHE set to perform three songs, including "Close My Eyes Forever", which she is singing with QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate. For all songs, Lita is being backed by QUEENSRŸCHE — Geoff Tate on vocals, Michael Wilton and Parker Lundgren on guitars, Eddie Jackson on bass and Scott Rockenfield on drums.

"Wicked Wonderland", the first album in 15 years from Lita Ford, sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD landed at position No. 31 on the Top Hard Music Albums chart.

"Wicked Wonderland" was released in Europe on October 2 via earMUSIC/Edel. The set was issued in the U.S. on October 6 through Lita's own JLRG Entertainment label as a regular CD and limited-edition vinyl with different artwork.

QUEENSRŸCHE has scheduled two "cabaret shows" at the Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, Washington on February 4-5, 2010

Queensrÿche Cabaret is described as Geoff Tate, Scott Rockenfield, Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson and Parker Lundgren performing a show-of-shows with a bunch of their friends who have a tendency to only come out late at night.

The Queensrÿche Cabaret will be art, lust, dancing and naughty fun with the band performing their hits and never-heard-before selections accompanied by go-go dancers, burlesque dancers, drag queens, a juggler, ballet dancer, aerial artist, contortionist and much more.

There will be fan-club-only parties and events Thursday Friday and Saturday nights, including a Super Bowl party on Sunday for those staying the weekend. Fan-club seats and passes to many, many events will be up in the next week.