Dave Edmunds had seen the hoopla surrounding Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band tour in 1989, when the former Beatle gathered a group of celebrity musician friends to form a touring band playing songs from the Fab Four, his solo hits, and all the best loved hits of the individual group members. The Starr tour had such a positive response that Edmunds decided he would try something similar.

Dave Edmunds All Star Rock 'N' Roll Revue gathered a quirky but powerful bunch of musical allies, many of whom had worked with Edmunds in the studio or in collaboration. Graham Parker (who had worked often with Edmunds and his cohort Nick Lowe), Fabulous Thunderbird lead vocalist Kim Wilson (who had collaborated with him), and '50s/'60s pop icon Dion were all part of the caravan of rock innovators that hit the road in the spring of 1990.