California power/groove metal veterans Vicious Rumors are set to embark on their U.S. tour in support of their latest record, The Devil’s Asylum, which was released in August 2025. Metal Insider caught up with founder/guitarist Geoff Thorpe to discuss the upcoming trek.
How does it feel to finally hit the road again?
Hello, It feels great!! I was very lucky to make this fast of a comeback after breaking my shoulder after the last show in Europe last year. The band feels the best we’ve felt in years! We’re excited to hit the road and all my guys have been so supportive and wanna help me get through it. I can and I’m ready to rip the guitar and kick some ass!
What were the biggest challenges you faced preparing for the tour?
I guess after all these years it was health issues with my arm. Physically, getting ready after months of hardly being able to move. We also live in California, Florida, Sweden, Kentucky so everything we do is a logistic riddle. If this was easy everyone would do it!
What has changed most about touring compared to past decades?
We enjoy the benefits of Airbnb. Having clean laundry and a house to spread out and decompress from time to time when that’s available. Touring is so expensive now. You risk your life moving at that pace for months at a time. I was lucky my career wasn’t over last July after my accident. Tours are longer and harder now.. I still love it!
What songs from The Devil’s Asylum translate the strongest in a live setting so far?
So far all the songs from the album we’ve played live have felt great and got a killer reaction! We’ve only had the opportunity to play 1 or 2 a few times. We’re really looking forward to playing the new songs live. The upcoming tour will feature classics, deep cuts and new songs! It’s a really powerful and fun set!!
How has the reception been like since the release of the new album?
The reaction has been overwhelmingly great! A lot of our fans and press have all been saying that ‘The Devil’s Asylum’ is our best album since ‘Welcome To The Ball’. Chemistry is everything for a band and it is at an alltime high time for VR! Our first 4 singles have over half a million views and counting, #22 on Billboards Hard Music Charts, #2 NACC college radio charts with 5 weeks at top 5 positions, amazing reviews and ratings. We are humbled and forever thankful!! Now it’s time to bring the fire to the stage!! This 70 plus date world tour will cover America, Europe, Japan and China! Let’s go!!
How has “Abusement Park” stood out compared to the other singles from the album?
“Abusement Park” is the first VR single with myself on lead vocals. It’s also the most playful kind of punk rock feel for VR. It’s a fun song to play and sing. Not as serious in vibe as past singles. And it’s got 126,000 views and counting! It’s great working with Ingo Spörl – we made all 4 videos with him.
Has the band’s songwriting process changed over the years with different lineups and eras?
I’d like to think the songwriting has evolved somehow… haha. For me it’s not a set formula. Sometimes it starts with a lyric, or a feel, and most of the time it starts with a riff. I do a lot of mixing and matching too. I’ll record 60 riffs as I listen back I’ll notice riff #12 goes perfectly with riff #22 or something…my favorite is when a song kind of writes itself in 30 min… I love that!!!
Artificial Intelligence is becoming more present in music, what’s your honest take on AI?
AI in music is an incredible tool. Only when it gets to the point of replacing songwriters and artists does it become truly scary… are we being erased? I don’t need my music to be clinically perfect. I need to feel something and I don’t think AI can provide that intangible feeling.
Once this tour wraps up, what’s next for you guys?
The plan for after the US 26 date tour will be 3 weeks off before we start a 30 show run in Europe from May 8 until June 20. Then a week of festivals and club dates back in the US from Sept 11th to the 18th! We’ve got plans of going to Japan and China which are in negotiations now. It’ll be well-over 70 shows by year’s end! Gonna be the Heavy Metal Adventure of a Lifetime!
If you could collaborate with any modern metal band today, who would it be and why?
I like working with other artists in the form of production, songwriting, video concepts, and recording. I like to help people achieve their musical goals and experience the power of collaboration. I don’t have any artists in mind, but when someone reaches out to me that also piques my interest, it’ll be put into motion immediately.
Looking back, what has been the most rewarding era of the band so far?
With 47 years in the industry we’ve certainly had a lot of ups and downs! Of course being young and signed to Atlantic Records and all of a sudden your label mates with Led Zeppelin and AC/DC is pretty hard to beat. I gotta go with VR in 2026! We’re more popular than ever before, and our attendance is up! Our tours are bigger and longer than when I was in my 20s! We’re playing for blood every night! I have a great team of guys on the same page! No time like the present!
Are there any rituals or traditions the band keeps before going on stage?
We do have a few dark rituals that can’t be witnessed by outsiders… things so deep in ancestors’ wrath and unworldly conjuring that not many can understand. And put away the cell phones 60 min before the set to get your head in the game! Lol
Which album from your catalog deserves more recognition than it gets?
I’m gonna say our whole damn catalog! We are the underground! We’re thankful to the fans for all these years of support. Do we deserve more? Yes! Are we bitter? Absolutely not! Things could always be better and they can surely be a hell of a lot worse! We’ve had an amazing 47 year run still going strong as ever! At this point I just feel thankful to have lived and keep living this Heavy Metal Dream.
Is there anything else you want to say or add about the upcoming tour?
On behalf of Larry, Robin, Chalice and Dennver – many, many thanks!! See you on tour my friends! Holy Diver! Almost 70 shows in 2026! Come and celebrate Heavy Metal with VR. We’re bringing Epic nights of power so come out and live this life on TEN! Metal on!
Tour Dates
02/25 Orlando, FL @ West End Trading Co.
02/26 Tampa, FL @ The Brass Mug
02/27 Fort Myers, FL @ Stet’s Bar
03/01 Atlanta, GA @ 529
03/03 Wichita, KS @ John Barleycorn’s
03/04 Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street
03/05 Dallas, TX @ Haltom Theater
03/06 Austin, TX @ Kickbutt Coffee
03/07 San Antonio, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
03/09 Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater
03/10 Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
03/12 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
03/13 Reno, NV @ Alturas Center Stage
03/14 Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon
03/15 Colorado Springs, CO @ LuLu’s Downtown
03/17 Lincoln, NE @ 1867 Bar
03/18 Iowa City, IA @ Wildwood
03/19 Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s
03/21 Kent, OH @ The Outpost
03/24 Providence, RI @ Alchemy
03/25 Rochester, NY @ Photo City
03/26 Catonsville, MD @ Morseburgers Tavern
03/27 Newark, NJ @ Halftime Sports Bar
03/28 Bristol, CT @ Bleachers
03/29 Harrisburg, PA @ HMAC
09/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Rage Of Armageddon Festival
09/18 Madison, WI @ Blades Of Steel Festival
Following the interview, it was announced that longtime drummer Larry Howe is no longer with the group once the U.S. tour dates wrap up. On Wednesday (18th), the band issued the below statement:
“Important statement
To clarify the statment:
VR is about the music! Not politics! Due to Larrys extreme views that have nothing to do with VR – four shows have been canceled so far because of this. It’s not about choosing sides in VR it’s about entertainment for all.
When the band is penalized this severly and our live events are being canceled, for one outspoken belief a change has to be made.
Statement:
After years of disagreement on the issue, Vicious Rumors will no longer be touring with long time drummer Larry Howe. As a band we have never agreed with Larry’s personal political ambitions. As hard as it is to let an original member go VR can no longer tolerate being punished by association for Larry’s personal opinions. They do not reflect the opinion of Vicious Rumors. Our message is simple and clear: Unity ! and celebrating Heavy Metal together! This message hasn’t changes since VR started in 1979! We wrote songs like ” World Church to bring people together. That’s our message for Vicious Rumors.
Out of respect to VR, Larry will honor the bands commitment to the U.S. leg of “The Devil’s Asylum Tour” Just days away from Feb 25Th to March 28Th.
We want to thank Larry for all these years of commitment to the band and his incredible musicianship. We’ll announce New Touring drummer soon.
Now let’s get back to the Heavy Metal Music doing the talking! See you VR maniacs on tour in the US and Europe soon. 75 shows starting in one week!
Let’s go!“
