Sleep have returned with a dramatically overhauled lineup and a new single in “Have Spacesuit Will Travel“, Guitarist Matt Pike (High On Fire, etc.), previously a fixture in the band, is no longer a member. Instead, vocalist/bassist Al Cisneros has rebuilt the stoner metal institution from the ground up, recruiting Melvins, etc. drummer Dale Crover and guitarist Bubba Dupree (Brant Bjork, Void etc.).
As such, “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” represents several firsts for the band, including the debut of this incarnation, and the band’s first official chapter without Pike. Cisneros said of this personnel change, “The vibe of the first jam was obvious. It was blue sunglasses-era Iommi in the quality, and equally awesome is Bubba is also one of the coolest people I’ve been able to make music with.” Cisneros also wished Pike, “the best on his earth-bound maneuvers.”
A press release further noted:
”Have Spacesuit Will Travel‘ at no time tries to pick up where ‘The Sciences‘ left off. There’s a considerable amount of new blood in the band, so imitation, as Bubba notes, would greatly limit the potential of three very unique and talented musicians. That being said, Sleep answers to an incredible recorded history, literally decades in the making, so it would not be surprising that Al, Dale and Bubba would find themselves composing in the spirit of that which had been established so long ago. The three of them were able to make an album that can truly be identified as genuine Sleep music, yet with a sharpness and agility to the recordings.’
The edit of this new song being presented boasts a 4:20 runtime. As for this forthcoming new album, details remain pending, outside of Third Man Records being expected to issue it. Additionally, a new comic book penned by Cisneros has been announced, which according to a product listing, ‘begins the saga of The Marijuanaut. An adventure which takes the reader to Planet Iommia, encounters with The Weedian, and introduces the traveller to Iommia’s deeper reverential practices, and more that resonates within the universe that Cisneros‘s lyrics created from the riff filled lands of Sleep’s discography.’
Dave Kloc and Arik Roper illustrated that book, which can be pre-ordered now via thirdmanrecords.com, with a bonus flexi disc and other select items. On top of all that, a new round of touring from the band has also been announced, with an artist presale set to commence Tuesday, June 23rd at 10:00am local time. The general onsale will follow next Thursday, June 25th at 10:00am local time.
09/08 San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
09/09 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
09/10 Albuquerque, NM – Revel
09/12 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
09/13 Austin, TX – Levitation
09/14 Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre
09/16 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
09/17 Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand At The Complex
09/18 Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
09/20 Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
09/21 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
09/22 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre
09/23 Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
09/25 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
09/26 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
09/27 Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst
09/28 Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
09/29 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
11/04 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
11/05 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
11/06 Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
11/07 Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s Hall
11/09 Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
11/10 Montreal, QC – Club Soda
11/11 South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom
11/12 Boston, MA – Roadrunner
11/13 Hudson, NY – Basilica Hudson
11/15 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
11/16 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
11/17 Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
