The North American leg of the Bay Strikes Back tour featuring Testament, Exodus and Death Angel has been postponed until 2022.
“We were really on the fence with this decision,” says Testament guitarist Eric Peterson. “But seeing other bands make it through with a few mild cases and other bigger bands just cancelling their entire tours, we felt it is in our best interest to postpone these shows to ’22.”
Adds fellow guitarist Alex Skolnick, “It gives none of us any pleasure to be the bearers of bad news yet again, but here we are. Although Bay Strikes Back is a top tour package for theaters, the reality is this: It can’t afford to take the risks that top grossing larger venue tours have been taking. The type of disruptions KISS and other large outdoor venue tours have experienced could cause our shows to be permanently cancelled – a lose/lose for everyone. The fact that a lower budget tour such as ours is limited.to indoor venues with tight backstage space only adds to the risk. It should go without saying that calling off these dates was a ‘last resort’ decision, and everyone involved would much rather this weren’t the case. However, this is the new reality we’re all in. All we can do is hope for everyone’s understanding, which we ask for sincerely.”
The trio of bands will perform as scheduled at Sacramento’s Aftershock festival on October 7th, as well as the hometown show scheduled for November 27th at Fox Oakland.
“We are saddened to announce that the Bay Strikes Back tour is being postponed, but the risk of cancelled shows due to positive tests leading to tour personnel being quarantined and isolated is just too great at this time,” says Exodus guitarist Gary Holt. “We want to feel safe, enjoy the tour and be able to hang out with our close friends. The silver lining in this is that Tom Hunting no longer needs chemo and will have more time to work his way back to doing a full tour. He will make his return behind the drums at Aftershock but a full tour requires more preparation, so that is the good part.”
Bay Strikes Back dates have been rebooked beginning in April and will include additional cities not originally scheduled for the tour.
“Usually when I’m asked to contribute a quote to an announcement it pertains to something I’m extremely excited about,” says Death Angel vocalist Mark Osegueda. “In this case I’m gutted… It pains me to announce that The Bay Strikes Back U.S. Tour is being postpone. No one was looking forward to this more than me. But, on the brighter side of things, the tour is in fact going to happen – just at a later time. And I can assure you that the already ravenous to play live members of Death Angel promise to provide a crushing set during a crushing tour. The Bay WILL Strike Back.”
“The Bay Strikes Back Tour” 2022 dates:
“The Bay Strikes Back Tour” 2022 dates:
Apr. 9 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater
Apr. 10 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
Apr. 12 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Apr. 13 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
Apr. 15 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
Apr. 16 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
Apr. 19 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
Apr. 20 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Apr. 21 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
Apr. 22 – Dallas, TX -Amplified Live
Apr. 23 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
Apr. 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Apr. 27 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Apr. 30 – Sayreville, NJ -Starland Ballroom
May 1 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage
May 2 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
May 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts
May 5 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
May 6 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
May 7 – Cincinnati, OH – Madison Theater
May 9 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
May 10 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora
May 11 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
May 12 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre
May 14 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
May 15 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
May 17 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre
May 19 – Denver, CO – Summit
May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
*More dates to be added
8 Responses
Well, this sucks. But on the bright side, it does allow Tom Hunting of Exodus more time to recover from his recent cancer surgery.
I’m so looking forward to this tour. All three bands can still write and perform killer thrash….proof musicians in their 50s are capable of still thrashing, unless you’re named Meh-tallica.
Hahahaa, I love yer comment Rattle….I hope they schedule Portland for their new dates in 2022. Testament alone will blow the walls off any place they play. Never seent hem as a headliner…should be great once they come around.
And yet Metallica continues laughing all the way to the bank.
The one really laughing has to be Jason, I hope he’s raking in some cash off the recent Black Album re-release….all that money, no more exhaustive travel. Must be nice, he worked his ass off for them. I miss his energy and back up vocals. I still love METALLCA, going to see them for the 40th shows, both nights. Should be great! \m/ \m/
While I don’t like what has become of Meh-tallica since the Blah album, I think they do a great job of being very fan friendly. For example, I thought their recent “pop up” concerts at small venues in San Francisco and Chicago, for a ticket price around $20, was pretty cool of them to do. I also think their special events, like these 40th anniversary shows and their 30th anniversary shows, are/were pretty awesome to do. The band sure does have a great connection with its fan base, probably one of the best and most genuine of all metal/rock bands. From a fan standpoint, Men-tallica has always remained fan friendly, regardless of how successful the band has become.
But, musically, Meh-tallica is no longer the once mighty thrash band I used to love…….
They’ve acted with class with regard to being inclusive with their fans and making them feel involved. Personally, while it was a tough adjustment to embrace Load-Reload at first, as I loved The Black album from the start, I soon recognized back then when I was in my early 20’s, that the band was evolving much like the Beatles. While I do recognize the greatness of the other thrash bands, I really have enjoyed watching the band develop and evolve through the decades. I do wish Jason was still with em, Trujillo was a fine replacement. Hell, he’s now been with them longer than Jason was….hard to believe…shit I’m getting old. \m/ \m/
I think it`s pretty funny it was labeled the bay strikes back tour and there`s no bay area dates , lol .
Hahaha-good observation and a valid point. Guess they were striking back the rest of the lower 48.