DAX RIGGS Explains How ACID BATH’s Reunion Came To Be

After disbanding in January 1997 following the tragic dying of bassist Audie Pitre, Acid Bath remained inactive for over twenty years. The band’s cult standing solely grew throughout this lengthy hiatus, with their two studio albums, When the Kite String Pops and Paegan Terrorism Techniques, gaining legendary recognition within the sludge and doom steel scenes.

Then, on October 15, 2024, Acid Bath stunned followers by saying their return to stay efficiency, with a scheduled look on the Sick New World Pageant in Las Vegas on April 12, 2025. This could have marked their first stay present in 28 years — however destiny intervened as soon as extra. The pageant was abruptly canceled, forcing the band to pivot. As a substitute, the long-awaited reunion kicked off on April 25, 2025, within the band’s hometown of New Orleans.

Acid Bath‘s present lineup contains authentic vocalist Dax Riggs and guitarists Sammy Duet and Mike Sanchez, joined by drummer Zack Simmons (Goatwhore) and bassist Shane Wesley (Crowbar). Whereas not all founding members are current, the band’s return has sparked a wave of pleasure all through the underground steel neighborhood.

So what occurred? Why did Acid Bath reunite? In line with Riggs in an interview with Blabbermouth, it began as informal jams between himself and Sanchez that slowly started to construct momentum.

“I assume Mike and I obtained again collectively somewhat bit earlier than, simply to begin the method. We had one other pal, in addition to a few mates, sit in with us to assist us play the songs at first. At first, it was a whole, ‘Wow, that sounded just like the tune!’ When Sammy got here in and the opposite gamers got here in, it got here collectively. It appeared fairly cool…there was no weirdness. We had been all making an attempt to do it and making an attempt to recollect, no less than for me, I feel them as nicely, as a result of it’s totally different for everyone concerned, so it was form of pure.”

This rekindling of inventive power wasn’t rooted in nostalgia alone — it was grounded in brotherhood. By way of years of divergent paths, the bond between the founding members by no means actually frayed. “Completely. I imply, they’re a few of my oldest mates that I nonetheless communicate with. You know the way life goes — they’re like your ‘historical mates’ who knew you once you had been a child. They’re like my brothers.”

The reunion reached its logical apex in April 2025, when the newly reformed Acid Bath took the stage of their native New Orleans. Followers from throughout the nation packed into the venue, hoping to witness one thing they’d lengthy believed unimaginable.

“It felt actually good, however there was quite a lot of weight on it, like I needed to be sure that I obtained it as right as I might. I assume there was quite a lot of weight to it. It felt like I had a job to do, and that was my primary intention, however I used to be definitely nervous that first time. In all probability for the soundcheck, I used to be much more nervous. I used to be most likely shaking throughout soundcheck. By the point we did the present, I form of zen’d out to the entire thing.”

Now, with tour dates stretching into 2026, Acid Bath stands not as a ghost of what might have been, however as a dwelling testomony to resilience, friendship, and the enduring pull of unfinished tales. Get these dates beneath.

7/11 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount (w/ Eyehategod & Wailin Storms)
7/18–20 Mansfield, OH Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Pageant
7/25 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount (w/ Pentagram)
8/9 Minneapolis, MN The Fillmore (w/ Windhand & Primitive Man)
8/16 Baltimore, MD Energy Plant Dwell (w/ Excessive On Fireplace, Windhand, Heavy Temple & Sonja)
8/22 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium (w/ Excessive On Fireplace & Windhand)
8/28 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium (w/ Pig Destroyer & The Obsessed)
9/9 Austin, TX Levitation
9/18–21 Louisville, KY Louder Than Life
10/2 Sacramento, CA Discovery Park (Aftershock Pageant)
10/11 Toronto, ON Insurgent (w/ Voivod)
12/5–6 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium (Decibel Journal Steel & Beer Fest: Denver)
12/12 Chicago, IL Salt Shed (w/ Excessive On Fireplace & Weedeater)
3/21 Grundy County, TN The Caverns (w/ Obituary, Herakleion & Saint Avangeline)