Shop our Big Takeover store for back issues, t-shirts & CDs
Follow The Big Takeover
2012 Reunions
It seems like there’s been a flurry of reunions announced in recent weeks. Here’s a rundown of 10 artists (popular and not-so-popular) who are reuniting to play some shows (and in at least one case, record new material) next year.
The Afghan Whigs
News this past week was announced that Greg Dulli‘s seminal, much-missed band, broken up since 2001, will perform at the ATP festivals in London and Asbury Park next year. Dulli will also curate the Asbury Park event. I still remember how great they were in 1999 on the 1965 tour, though my feeling is that their set will probably veer towards earlier material, particularly 1993’s career-defining Gentlemen.
The Promise Ring
Another reunion I was quite excited to hear about was the announcement last month that The Promise Ring, broken up since 2002, would play shows in their hometown of Milwaukee and in Chicago as well. Here’s hoping that they eventually play on the East Coast, that their set sticks to their 1st 3 albums (especially 1999’s excellent and oddly underrated Very Emergency) and that they record new material someday.
Guided by Voices
OK we all know that the “classic lineup” reunited last year to play some live shows. More recently, not one but two new albums have been announced with the first of these (Let’s Go Eat the Factory) slated for release next month.
Codeine
Perhaps less high-profile than some of the other recently-announced reunions, this one is no less significant, at least for me. I still remember Codeine absolutely flooring me at my college’s student center cafe back in 1994. To this day, I’ve never seen a band release so much tension on stage. They built it up and there was no release, but it was still incredible. Along with an ATP date and planned U.S. tour, their catalog is also getting reissued next year.
Swervedriver
OK so Swervedriver have technically been playing shows again since 2008, but they recently announced some U.S. shows, including another New York show and a stop here in Philadelphia at Union Transfer. We missed them when they played here back in 2008, so we’re really excited about these shows.
The Darkness
File this one under reunions I thought I’d be more excited about. In 2003/2004, I loved their debut Permission to Land and though I missed their 2003 Bowery Ballroom show, I did catch them play an in-store at the old Virgin megastore on Times Square around that time period. After a typical sophomore slump album (2005’s _One Way Ticket to Hell and Back), they gradually broke up and I hadn’t thought about them in years. Revisiting Permission to Land, the riffs and songs still kick and are catchy enough to be hummed days later, but singer Justin Hawkins‘ falsetto is so over-the-top that it’s impossible to take seriously.
Black Sabbath
To almost no one’s surprise, the death of Ronnie James Dio opened the door for yet another reunion with original singer Ozzy Osbourne. As much as I love all of their records up to and including Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and as great as they were the first few times I saw them when they first reunited in the late ’90s, Ozzy hasn’t been able to hack it in years, so between that and the inevitably high ticket prices, I’ll probably skip this one.
Fleetwood Mac
Since Stevie Nicks announced the possibility of a reunion back in May, fans have been waiting for an official announcement. Personally, I’m OK with this not happening (especially considering that ticket can cost as much as mortgage payments and that Christine McVie hasn’t been part of the fold in years) as long as Lindsey Buckingham makes more great, inspired solo albums.
Young Marble Giants
Totally unbeknownest to me, Young Marble Giants have been shows on and off in Europe since 2007! It was until I saw the ATP lineup for next spring’s London festival that I saw their name on there, though! Here’s hoping they play the U.S. at some point.
Mike Watt and George Hurley play the songs of The Minutemen
Another ATP London only attraction which is exactly what it is billed as, I hope Watt and Hurley bring this show to the U.S.
