Even for the more diehard rock fans, Butthole Surfers might be a band people have looked over, especially since the last album they released came out in 2001 with the release of Weird Revolution. But now, it looks like your favorite rock band’s favorite rock band is gearing up for some new tunes some sixteen years later.
The news first broke in a rather unconventional way. No press release or tweet, but instead the announcement was accidentally made when engineer-producer Stuart Sullivan let it slip in a recent meeting with Austin city’s music commission. The new appointee was giving a rundown of his resume and off-handedly told the group that he was about to return to the studio with the legendary/mysterious rock outfit.
Guitarist Paul Leary later confirmed their plans along with Sullivan’s involvement, however that was all he let slip on the new material. Weird Revolution was their last release of any kind, and that project was largely re-recorded material from an abandoned record entitled After the Astronaut. The band has toured randomly throughout the following decade, but even that has slowed down due to Leary’s slight weariness from touring.
“I just don’t want to play live anymore,” Leary said in an interview back in 2016. “It’s not fun, I don’t like touring. That hour on stage is a whole lot of fun, but the other 23 hours off stage just f***ing suck.”
The band has stayed involved musically, however. Leary and Surfers bassist Jeff Pinkus have worked with the Melvins on their 2014 Hold It In, and Pinkus again on their 2016 LP Basses Loaded. “We’ve all been busy with our own separate things, and I’ve done lot of producing the past few years,” Leary said this past March.
In that same interview, Leary hinted at the possibility of a new Butthole Surfers album…as well as what is now becoming a common inspiration for bands to reunite.
“It’s time to make a new Butthole Surfers album. Especially now that Trump is president, jeez! If there was ever a time for a Butthole Surfers album it’s f***ing now.”
So even if all the Facebook debates have got you done, at least it’s brought a new Butthole Surfers album! While there’s no confirmation on a release date (it looks like recording hasn’t even begun), at least you know more good music is on the way.
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