Swedish rock’n’roll heroes The Hives return this summer with their first studio album in over a decade. Today, the band announces The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons out August 11th, 2023 via Fuga.
The announcement is paired with the release of the album’s muscular opening track ‘Bogus Operandi’, whose insistent and incendiary yet suave sound fizzes with the wild energy that has become the legendary band’s calling card and sets the tone for the project as a whole. The song’s thrilling, gory and downright stylish music video is directed by Aube Perrie (Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion.
The announcement and new single precede a spring UK/EU arena tour with the Arctic Monkeys, as well as UK festival dates and intimate album in-store performances. The intimate shows are in Bristol and Nottingham (Rough Trade Records), and Prysm in Kingston (Banquet Records). Tickets are available from those retailers from May 4th. The band will also perform a very special underplay show at The Garagem London. Pre-sale access for this show is given to fans who pre-order the album from the band’s D2C store before May 9th. Fan pre-sale takes place on May 10th, with tickets going on general sale Friday, May 12th.
As the album’s macabre title hints, the band’s extended absence from the studio has been no hiatus but rather a horror story. The Hives now admit they have not seen nor spoken to their founder, mentor and songwriter, the perpetual limelight-shunning Randy Fitzsimmons, since the release of 2012’s Lex Hives. Following the recent discovery of a hidden away obituary and cryptic poem in the local paper of the Northern Vastmanland town where The Hives are from, the band members were led to Fitzsimmons’ tombstone. Upon digging the freshly interred ground, the band found not a body but instead several tapes, suits, and a piece of paper bearing the words “The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons” typed up as if a title. Whether a hoax or Fitzsimmons’ opening gambit, remains to be seen. The uncovered tapes included the demos that would become the twelve new songs on The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons.
Of the new album, frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist declares, “There’s no maturity or anything like that bullshit, because who the fuck wants mature rock’n’roll? That’s always where people go wrong, I feel. ‘It’s like rock’n’roll but adult,’ nobody wants that! That’s literally taking the good shit out of it. Rock’n’roll can’t grow up, it is a perpetual teenager and this album feels exactly like that, which it’s all down to our excitement – and you can’t fake that shit.”
Bassist The Johan And Only joins Chris Dangerous , Vigilante Carlstroem, Nicholaus Arson, and Howlin’ Pelle as a full member of The Hives following the departure of Dr Matt Destruction. Producer Patrik Berger captures the band’s punk energy and propensity for hits with his own roots in the Swedish punk scene and pop credentials including with Lana Del Rey, Robyn, and Charli XCX.
The album comes available as gatefold, glow in the dark vinyl, including a poster – limited edition D2C only.
In the twenty-five years since The Hives exploded around the world, they have sold out stadiums and shared stages with everyone from AC/DC to The Rolling Stones. They have sold millions of albums world-wide with multiple RIAA Gold-certifications. In the time since Lex Hives, the band has released 2019’s double A-side ‘I’m Alive’/’Good Samaritan’ as well as a live album via Third Man Records, and embarked on a series of global tours. The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons marks a true renaissance.
The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons tracklist:
1. Bogus Operandi
2. Trapdoor Solution
3. Countdown To Shutdown
4. Rigor Mortis Radio
5. Stick Up
6. Smoke & Mirrors
7. Crash Into The Weekend
8. Two Kinds Of Trouble
9. The Way The Story Goes
10. The Bomb
11. What Did I Ever Do To You?
12. Step Out Of The Way
THE HIVES UK SHOWS
May
Sat 27th Live At Leeds Festival,, Leeds
Mon 29th Bristol, Ashton Gate Stadium w/ Arctic Monkeys
Tue 30th Bristol, Fleece – Rough Trade Records
Wed 31st Coventry, Building Society Arena w/ Arctic Monkeys
June
Fri 2nd Manchester, Emirates Old Trafford w/ Arctic Monkeys
Sat 3rd Manchester, Emirates Old Trafford w/ Arctic Monkeys
Mon 5th Middlesbrough, Riverside Stadium w/ Arctic Monkeys
Tue 6th Kingston, Pryzm – Banquet Records
Wed 7th Norwich, Carrow Road Stadium w/ Arctic Monkeys
Fri 9th Sheffield, Hillsborough Park w/ Arctic Monkeys
Sat 10th Sheffield, Hillsborough Park w/ Arctic Monkeys
Mon 12th Swansea, Swansea.com Stadium w/ Arctic Monkeys
Tue 13th London, The Garage
Wed 14th Southampton, The Ageas Bowl w/ Arctic Monkeys
Fri 16th London, Emirates Stadium w/ Arctic Monkeys
Sat 17th London, Emirates Stadium w/ Arctic Monkeys
Sun 18th London, Emirates Stadium w/ Arctic Monkeys
Tue 20th Dublin, Marlay Park w/ Arctic Monkeys
Thu 22nd Nottingham, Rescue Room – Rough Trade Records
Sun 25th Glasgow, Bellahouston Park w/ Arctic Monkeys
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I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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