Veteran U.S. energy metallers Vicious Rumors have introduced the departure of their longtime drummer Larry Howe, citing irreconcilable variations over his private political opinions.
In a press release shared on social media on February 18, the band stated: “After years of disagreement on the problem, Vicious Rumors will not be touring with longtime drummer Larry Howe.
“As a band, we’ve got by no means agreed with Larry’s private political ambitions. As onerous as it’s to let an authentic member go, VR can not tolerate being punished by affiliation for Larry‘s private opinions. They don’t mirror the opinion of Vicious Rumors. Our message is straightforward and clear: Unity! and celebrating heavy steel collectively!”
The band emphasised that their mission of bringing individuals collectively by music, a core message since forming in 1979, stays unchanged. In addition they confirmed that Howe will honor the band’s dedication to the U.S. leg of The Satan’s Asylum Tour, operating from February 25 to March 28, earlier than a brand new touring drummer is introduced.
Howe, who joined Vicious Rumors in 1985, describes himself as a “rock ‘n’ roll patriot” on social media. The band’s upcoming 2026 tour spans 75 reveals throughout the U.S. and Europe, they usually concluded their assertion encouraging followers: “Now let’s get again to the heavy steel music doing the speaking! See you VR maniacs on tour quickly!”
Vicious Rumors then clarified: “VR is in regards to the music! Not politics! Because of Larrys excessive views that don’t have anything to do with VR – 4 reveals have been canceled thus far due to this. It isn’t about selecting sides in VR it is about leisure for all. When the band is penalized this severly and our stay occasions are being canceled, for one outspoken perception a change must be made.”
In a private assertion, Howe supplied the next: ‘The cranium. An outline usually utilized in vicious rumors merchandise and logos as in quite a few different heavy steel bands. The reason is that it’s the denomination of the collective gathering of a selected kind of music fanatic, the heavy steel fan.
“The primary cause for that is that it’s the one attribute that all of us share. It doesn’t matter what coloration pores and skin lies on high of the cranium, what coloration the hair -or if there may be any, and likewise for what goes on inside between the ears. All this stuff might be totally different, the one factor that all of us have in widespread is the cranium. Nothing can change this. These variations are the issues we should always all look past as we take heed to the music we love, and attend stay reveals enjoying the music, taking us away from a judgmental world if solely only for a number of hours at a present.
“So once I see junk journalism in what quantities to a grocery retailer gossip rag disguising itself as a heavy steel journal, chastising band members comparable to myself and different musicians for his or her proclivities and beliefs, I see it as a crack within the system. These kinds of divide and conquer techniques are normally embraced by controlling authoritarian oligarchs, or corrupt profession politicians, or DIGITAL DICTATORS. This can not stand.
“The heavy steel trade as a complete is among the smallest markets in your complete music trade, and we should not enable it to disintegrate by infighting like youngsters yelling on a playground in a ‘cancel tradition’. Sure, I’m responsible of reposting some memes which have upset some individuals. It was not my intention and I humbly apologize.
“However we can not afford to let this bastardization of opinion splinter the very basis of the heavy steel scene across the planet. We have to embrace our variations to be stronger than ever, and stay vigilant and yearn for the liberty to specific our opinions and ideas with out such a harmful consequence. United we stand divided we fall . Keep in mind, within the state run entity, there is no such thing as a music or freedom of speech, and that is one thing that we merely can not ever enable to occur.
“Musicians and followers alike sit up for these gatherings as a option to escape the banalities of life. Work associated issues, stress , lack of relationships, marriage, divorces, foreclosures, chapter… and so forth. and so forth. These are the issues we ALL want to depart behind as we attend stay music occasions.
“When you really feel the necessity to assault any musician over one thing they’ve randomly stated or posted, you’ve got that proper. That’s the double edged sword of freedom of speech. However please do not search to destroy the heavy steel scene we have all been constructing for many years. It’s like one large household and we’d like for it to stay so. No matter our variations could also be.
“So now I’ll politely stroll away from the European tour because the German promoters felt the necessity to cancel the reveals Geoff had labored so onerous to rearrange for our followers. That is an unlucky consequence. Please proceed to help the band that has been such a giant a part of my life for thus lengthy. FYI, I am nonetheless doing all the American reveals.! It actually must be an attention-grabbing tour!! do not miss it!”
Get these dates under and get your tickets right here.
2/25 Orlando, FL West Finish Buying and selling Co.
2/26 Tampa, FL The Brass Mug
3/1 Atlanta, GA 529
3/10 Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room
3/12 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge
3/13 Reno, NV Alturas Middle Stage
3/14 Salt Lake Metropolis, UT Aces Excessive Saloon
3/15 Colorado Springs, CO Lulu’s Downtown
3/17 Lincoln, NE 1867 Bar
3/18 Iowa Metropolis, IA Wildwood
3/19 Chicago, IL Reggie’s
3/21 Kent, OH The Outpost
3/23 Earleville, MD Membership RYD
3/24 Windfall, RI Alchemy
3/25 Rochester, NY Picture Metropolis
3/26 Catonsville, MD Morseburgers Tavern
3/27 Newark, DE Halftime Sports activities Bar
3/28 Bristol, CT Bleachers
3/29 Harrisburg, PA HMAC
3/3 Wichita, KS John Barleycorn’s
3/4 Oklahoma Metropolis, OK 89th Road
3/5 Dallas, TX Haltom Theater
3/6 Austin, TX Kickbutt Espresso
3/7 San Antonio, TX Fitzgerald’s
3/9 Albuquerque, NM El Rey Theater
5/10 Zagreb, HR Hardplace
5/10 Zagreb, HR Hardplace
5/11 Belgrade, RS Klub Fest
5/11 Belgrade, RS Klub Fest
5/13 Selb, DE Rock Membership Nordbayern
5/14 Essen, DE Do not Panic
5/15 Lichtenfels, DE Paunchy Cats
5/16 Brno, CZ Kabinet Mus
5/17 Kosice, SK Colosseum
5/18 Zilina, SK Smer Membership 77
5/20 Munich, DE Backstage
5/22 Plozevet, FR Courts Of Chaos Pageant
5/28 Portugalete, ES Groove Room
5/29 Madrid, ES Sala Silikona
5/30 Barcelona, ES Lennon’s Membership
5/31 Valencia, ES Sala Zulu
5/8 Freiburg, DE Skullcrusher Fest
5/9 Cham, DE LA
6/10 Hamburg, DE Brand
6/11 Kassel, DE Goldgrube
6/12 Den Haag, NL Musicon
6/13 Breda, NL Sound Canine
6/14 Oldenburg, DE MTS
6/17 Dortmund, DE Cafe Banana (Unique Acoustic Present)
6/17 Dortmund, DE Cafe Banana (Unique Acoustic Present)
6/18 Osnabrück, DE Bastard Membership
6/19 Düsseldorf, DE The Pitcher
6/20 Graspop, BE Graspop Steel Assembly
6/3 Velden, AT Bluesiana
6/5 Modena, IT Vibra Membership
6/6 Vicenza, IT Tremendous Metalfest VIII
6/7 Milano, IT RHO Rock n Roll
6/7 Milano, IT RHO Rock n Roll
6/9 Stuttgart, DE Der Schwarze Keiler
9/12 Brooklyn, NY Rage Of Armageddon Pageant
9/18 Madison, WI Blades Of Metal Pageant
