Swedish rock’n’roll heroes, The Hives will return this summer with their first studio album in over a decade. ‘The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons’ is set for release on August 11, 2023, via FUGA. The band has also released the opening track ‘Bogus Operandi,’ accompanied by a music video directed by Aube Perrie (Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion).
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.
Fans can also catch the band on a massive European tour with Artic Monkeys, as well as a handful of headline shows.
European tour with Arctic Monkeys:
May 27th – Temple Newsam – Leeds, UK
May 29th – Ashton Gate – Bristol, UK
May 30th – The Fleece – Bristol, UK w/ Rough Trade
May 31st – Ricoh Arena – Coventry, UK
June 2nd – Old Trafford Cricket Ground – Manchester, UK
June 3rd – Emirates Old Trafford – Manchester, UK
June 5th – Middlesbrough FC – Middlesbrough, UK
June 6th – PRYZM – London, UK – *no Artic Monkeys
June 7th – Carrow Road Stadium – Norwich, UK
June 9th – Hillsborough Park – Sheffield, UK
June 10th – Hillsborough Park – Sheffield, UK
June 12th – Liberty Stadium – Swansea, UK
June 13th – The Garage – London, UK *no Artic Monkeys
June 14th – The Ageas Bowl – Southampton, UK
June 16th – Emirates Stadium – London, UK
June 17th – Emirates Stadium – London, UK
June 18th – Emirates Stadium – London, UK
June 20th – Marlay Park – Dublin, Ireland
June 22nd – Rescue Room – Nottingham, UK – *with Rough Trade
June 25th – Bellahousten Park – Glasgow, UK
July 15th – Ippodromo Del Galoppo Di San Siro – Milano, Italy *no Artic Monkeys
July 16th – Ippodromo Capannelle – Roma, Italy
July 18th – Water Square – Athens, Greece
July 19th – Plateia Nerou – Athens, Greece
Headline dates and festivals:
August 4th – Banana Pier – Göteborg, Sweden
August 5th – Mölleplatsen – Malmö, Sweden
August 18th – Dalhalla – Rättvik, Sweden
August 19th – Dalhalla – Rättvik, Sweden
August 25th – Vangen Festivalen – Vången, Norway
August 26th– Foynhagen – Tønsberg, Norway