One of the world's most enduring heavy metal bands, the Scorpions, is about to make a brief orchestral visit to the U.S.

The Germany-based group teams up with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra on its upcoming album, "Moment Of Glory," and fittingly, the band will be backed by an orchestra on four of its five American dates.

The U.S. jaunt will start with an acoustic appearance at a radio event in Baltimore on September 15, with the symphonic concerts scheduled for later in the month in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

In a move recalling Metallica's 1999 symphonic dates and resulting "S&M" LP, the Scorpions' "Moment Of Glory" features band and orchestra performing classic Scorps material as well as two new songs.

When the album drops on August 29, fans will find orchestral versions of the group's 1984 monsters-of-rock hit "Rock You Like A Hurricane" (now titled "Hurricane 2000") as well as other familar favorites such as "Send Me An Angel" (featuring Zucchero), "Wind Of Change," "Big City Nights" (with Ray Wilson from Genesis), "Crossfire," "Deadly Sting Suite," "Lady Starlight," and "Still Loving You."

The album's title song, which was composed for the Expo 2000 event in the band's hometown of Hanover, is one of the band's new tracks, as is "Here In My Heart," a Diane Warren song performed as a duet with American singer Lyn Liechty.

The core members of the Scorpions, who have been around since the late 1960s, include founding member Rudolf Schenker on guitar, vocalist Klaus Meine (who joined in 1971), and 20-year veteran guitarist Matthias Jabs.

The mini-tour schedule is as follows:

  • 9/15 - Baltimore, MD @ Meriweather Pavillion
  • 9/21 - Phoenix, AZ @ America West Arena
  • 9/23 - Las Vegas, NV @ Aladdin Theatre
  • 9/28 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
  • 9/30 - San Francisco, CA @ TBA