‘Bay Area Strikes Back’ Tour Announces Rescheduled 2022 Dates

2021-10-06

Promo photo of thrash metal band Testament standing amid a dark background.

Testament – Story by Cat Badra, photo by Stephanie Cabral

Testament, Exodus and Death Angel say they can’t risk hitting the road on the “Bay Area Strikes Back” tour only to have dates postponed due to COVID-19

With just a handful of days left before the tour was scheduled to happen, the thrash-heavy “Bay Strikes Back” Tour featuring Testament, Exodus and Death Angel has been postponed to 2022. The three acts say the move it due to pandemic safety concerns and the possibility of shows getting postponed mid-tour.

It makes sense why the metal acts on tour would be extra sensitive about getting sick. The tour’s European leg, which wrapped up in March 2020, resulted in multiple members of the bands getting infected, including Testament vocalist Chuck Billy, Exodus guitarist Gary Holt and Death Angel drummer Will Carroll, the latter who had to be put in a coma and on a respirator during his fight with COVID-19. Read Audio Ink Radio’s interview with Billy, talking about his experience with the virus, here.

The new trek will set off April 9 in San Luis Obispo, California, and run through a May 20 date in Salt Lake City, Utah. More dates are on the way.

“We were really on the fence with this decision,” Testament guitarist Eric Peterson said in a statement. “But seeing other bands make it through with a few mild cases and other bigger bands just cancelling their entire tours, we felt it is in our best interest to postpone these shows to ’22.”

“Although ‘Bay Strikes Back’ is a top tour package for theaters, the reality is this: It can’t afford to take the risks that top grossing larger venue tours have been taking,” Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick added. “The type of disruptions KISS and other large outdoor venue tours have experienced could cause our shows to be permanently canceled — a lose/lose for everyone. The fact that a lower budget tour such as ours is limited to indoor venues with tight backstage space only adds to the risk.”

Some good news came via the announcement, too. According to Holt, Exodus drummer Tom Hunting, who underwent a total gastrectomy to fight stomach cancer, will now probably be able to be at the tour, due to the new dates. “We want to feel safe, enjoy the tour and be able to hang out with our close friends,” Holt said. “The silver lining in this is that Tom Hunting no longer needs chemo and will have more time to work his way back to doing a full tour.”

The tour will still perform at the Aftershock festival in October, plus a hometown Bay Area show on Nov. 27 in Oakland, California. Hunting is expected to be at both gigs.

“Bay Area Strikes Back” 2022 Dates:

04/09 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater
04/10 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
04/12 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
04/13 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
04/15 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
04/16 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
04/19 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
04/20 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
04/21 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
04/22 – Dallas, TX @ Amplified Live
04/23 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
04/26 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
04/27 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
04/30 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
05/01 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
05/02 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
05/03 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
05/05 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
05/06 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
05/07 – Cincinnati, OH @ Madison Theater
05/09 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
05/10 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora
05/11 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
05/12 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre
05/14 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge
05/15 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge
05/17 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
05/19 – Denver, CO @ Summit
05/20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot

Cat Badra
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