Apparently, when Lenny Kravitz was trying to peddle his music to prospective record companies back in the '80s, he was cited as not being 'black' enough or 'white' enough. You've got to laugh at the stupidity of big corporations, sometimes. Kravitz eventually had the last laugh by racking up an obscene number of awards for his rock-funk fusion, finally scoring sales of 11 million copies of his 2000 Greatest Hits album.

Previously, the dread-locked singer (and partner to Cosby Show actress Lisa Bonet and French breathy-chanteuse and actress Vanessa Paradis), had earned his chops with the rousing "Are You Gonna Go My Way?", "Always on the Run" and "Fly Away", although one of his bigger UK hits was the string-laden funk-soul botherer, "It Ain't Over 'til it's Over". Can he repeat that '90s success?

2011 will see Kravitz return to the live arena and album schedules with the Black and White project, which includes an extensive European tour. Is he gonna go your way? Well, if you're a southerner, yes. Lenny will make just one stop in the UK - Hammersmith Apollo on 27th October (unlike France which gets eight visits). Tickets for the London date will go on sale at 9am next Friday with prices starting at £34.50.

You can expect the classic hits, as well as songs taken from his new album "Black and White America", which is set for release on 22nd August. It's will be his ninth album and sees his debut release for new home, Roadrunner. Essentially a more funky and low-down and dirty set than usual, first single "Come On Get It" was released in February [see the video, above - skip to 1:00 to get the funk - Ed].