Back in June, thrashers Testament announced their ‘The Bay Strikes Back Tour’ with Exodus and Death Angel, and thrashers across the country rejoiced. Now, in a new interview, Testement frontman Chuck Billy has discussed the COVID regulations that will have to be enforced to make the tour safe — which makes sense, given that all the bands involved in the tour dealt with COVID.
“Of course, you guys know we came off The Bay Strikes Back in Europe [in March 2020]…I think everybody in the bands, all three bands, were sick with COVID,” Billy said in a video on his Instagram. “So we’re getting ready to go out on this tour, and we’ve gotta kind of approach things a little different. First of all, we wanna be able to put on a performance and a show for everybody that’s been stuck at home for so long dying to get some music, shows under the belt. So we’re gonna do things a little different as far as… We do wanna offer a meet-and-greet with our fans, but we’re gonna do things a little bit different and offer a soundcheck so we actually don’t really have to touch each other and be that close to each other to spread a virus if someone does carry it. Because if one person gets sick on this tour, the tour is over.
“So, we’re trying to do everything we can to keep the fans safe, to keep the bands safe and keep us working so the tour doesn’t end. So I wanna apologize, ’cause I know I like to come out after the show and hang out with some fans, sign things, talk to everybody. And it’s gonna be a little different this time. So I wanna apologize in advance to those of you who’ve been hanging out after the shows and I visit with. You’re gonna have to wait a little longer — maybe until next summer, when the tour comes through. But I wanted to make everybody aware of that.
“We’re all gonna have to do this together, do our part. Either be vaccinated. And if you’re not vaccinated and you wanna come see the show, do everybody else a favor — wear a mask. I mean, that’s your choice. We’re just trying to do everything we can to keep this tour going, keep fans entertained, and, most of all, keep us and the crews working. I would hate to get out there and start a tour and then, in the middle of it, somebody gets sick and the whole tour’s done. So, we’re all in it together.”
View this post on Instagram
Right on, Chuck. Wear a mask or flash your shot card at one of the following dates:
10/6 – Fremont Theater – San Luis Obispo, CA
10/7 – Aftershock Festival – Sacramento, CA ^^
10/8 – House Of Blues – San Diego, CA *
10/10 – House Of Blues – Anaheim, CA *
10/11 – Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ
10/12 – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM *
10/14 – Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK *
10/15 – Gas Monkey Bar & Grill – Dallas, TX
10/16 – Emo’s – Austin, TX *
10/17 – White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
10/18 – House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA
10/20 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA *
10/21 – The Ritz – Raleigh, NC
10/22 – TLA – Philadelphia, PA *
10/23 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ *
10/24 – Balitmore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
10/26 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY *
10/27 – House Of Blues – Boston, MA *
10/28 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
10/29 – Madison Theater – Cincinnati, OH
10/30 – The Agora – Cleveland, OH
11/1 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA
11/2 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
11/4 – The Majestic – Detroit, MI
11/5 – The Forge – Joliet, IL *
11/7 – Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
11/9 – Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO *
11/10 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT *
11/11 – House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV ^
11/27 – The Fox – Oakland, CA
^^ Festival
^ No EXODUS
* Rescheduled TESTAMENT dates – Tickets honored
***
Words by Chris Krovatin
