Swedish rock’n’roll heroes The Hives return this summer with their first studio album in over a decade. The band announces The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons will be out on August 11, 2023 via world-leading music distributor 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) and produced by Pulse Films. The announcement and new single precede LA and NYC underplays this month, which SOLD OUT in less than 60 seconds, and a spring UK/EU arena tour with the Arctic Monkeys.
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 Lana Del Rey, Robyn, and Charli XCX.
The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons will be available digitally, on CD, and on vinyl. A special limited edition glow in the dark gatefold vinyl with poster will be available exclusively via the band’s own webstore. Fans who pre-order the album via the band’s UK webstore will receive access to an exclusive pre-sale on May 10 for the band’s London underplay at The Garage on June 13.
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. SPIN calls The Hives “the best live band on the planet” and Howlin’ Pelle “the greatest frontman in rock,” and the BBC dubbed the band “a force of nature.” Rolling Stone named Veni Vidi Vicious one of the Top 100 Albums of the decade and “Hate To Say I Told You So” earned a spot on Pitchfork’s Top 500 Songs of the 2000’s. 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 2023 Tour Dates:
May 11 – POMONA, CA @ The Glass House SOLD OUT
May 16 – NEW YORK, NY @ Racket NYC SOLD OUT
May 27 – LEEDS, UK @ Temple Newsam *
May 29 – BRISTOL, UK @ Ashton Gate *
May 30 – BRISTOL, UK @ The Fleece w/ Rough Trade
May 31 – COVENTRY, UK @ Ricoh Arena *
Jun 2 – MANCHESTER, UK @ Old Trafford Cricket Ground *
Jun 3 – MANCHESTER, UK @ Emirates Old Trafford *
Jun 5 – MIDDLESBROUGH, UK @ Middlesbrough FC *
Jun 6 – LONDON, UK @ PRYZM w/ Banquet Records
Jun 7 – NORWICH, UK @ Carrow Road Stadium *
Jun 9 – SHEFFIELD, UK @ Hillsborough Park *
Jun 10 – SHEFFIELD, UK @ Hillsborough Park *
Jun 12 – SWANSEA, UK @ Liberty Stadium *
Jun 13 – LONDON, UK @ The Garage
Jun 14 – SOUTHAMPTON, UK @ The Ageas Bowl *
Jun 16 – LONDON, UK @ Emirates Stadium *
Jun 17 – LONDON, UK @ Emirates Stadium *
Jun 18 – LONDON, UK @ Emirates Stadium *
Jun 20 – DUBLIN, IE @ Marlay Park *
Jun 22 – NOTTINGHAM, UK @ Rescue Room w/ Rough Trade
Jun 25 – GLASGOW, UK @ Bellahousten Park *
Jul 15 – MILANO, IT @ Ippodromo Del Galoppo Di San Siro
Jul 16 – ROMA, IT @ Ippodromo Capannelle *
Jul 18 – ATHENS, GR @ Water Square *
Jul 19 – ATHENS, GR @ Plateia Nerou *
Aug 4 – GÖTEBORG, SE @ Banana Pier
Aug 5 – MALMÖ, SE @ Mölleplatsen
Aug 18 – RÄTTVIK, SE @ Dalhalla
Aug 19 – RÄTTVIK, SE @ Dalhalla
Aug 25 – VÅNGEN, NO @ Vangen Festivalen
Aug 26 – TØNSBERG, NORWAY @ Foynhagen
* w/ Arctic Monkeys
