Paradise Lost have spent over three decades touring the globe, but the backstage environment looks vastly different today than it did in the 1990s. In a new interview with the “Slowhands Rock Talk Show“, frontman Nick Holmes opened up about his vocal health and why he has completely abandoned the wild touring lifestyle of his youth.
When asked how he preserves his singing voice now compared to the early days of the band, Nick Holmes explained that strict discipline has replaced late-night pub visits.
“I’m taking way more care now, ’cause, obviously, I’m not there to party. When I was a young lad, I was kind of there for that as well. Now there is none of that. I mean, I can’t remember the last time I went to a pub, especially on tour. There’s none of that. We might have a few drinks after the show, but it’s a very quiet affair,” he shared (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
To ensure he can deliver night after night, the vocalist relies on a quiet and highly regimented daily routine while on the road.
“I tend to talk quietly,” Nick Holmes explained. “I never shout, I never try and get upset. I try and get as much sleep as I possibly can. And just very, very boring stuff, I guess. But if you’ve got a lot of shows in a row or if you’ve got a lot of red-eye flights, which we often have in the summertime, you just got to kind of behave the best you can to make sure, ’cause the only thing that matters is the show, and that’s gotta be the best you can make it. And that’s what it’s all about.”
Reflecting on the wider heavy metal and rock scene, the singer noted that the rampant partying that defined the music industry decades ago has largely vanished—even among newer acts.
“I don’t know anybody my age or even within 10 years of my age that kind of does any of this kind of craziness. There’s not many. I mean, even young bands, they tend to be very, very sensible. You don’t really see it much, particularly at festivals. Backstage in the ’90s, it was just crazy, with the amount of drinking and shenanigans, but it’s just a very, very sober affair at most festivals these days, regardless of how old anybody is,” he added.
When the interviewer suggested that modern bands are simply more focused on delivering top-tier performances, Holmes agreed, but also pointed out the undeniable impact of modern technology on backstage behavior.
“Oh, totally,” he said. “But I also think that the video camera has completely quieted it down, because no one wants to get filmed doing anything stupid. So that’s a massive thing as well, for sure.”
In other band news, Paradise Lost guitarist Gregor Mackintosh recently addressed a string of “health issues” that caused him to lose a significant amount of weight over the past few months. Reassuring the fanbase, he stated he is feeling “fine” and receiving good medical care, confirming: “None of this affects my ability to play.”
Paradise Lost is currently on the road supporting their 17th studio album, Ascension, which was released last September via Nuclear Blast Records. Serving as the follow-up to 2020’s critically acclaimed Obsidian, the new record was produced by Gregor Mackintosh and mixed and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory.
Paradise Lost Tour Dates:
- May 22 – 24, 2026: Rock Hard Festival 2026 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany
- June 24 – 27, 2026: Basinfirefest 2026 – Spálené Poříčí, Czech Republic
- June 27, 2026: Arsenal Fest 2026 – Knežev arsenal, Kragujevac, Serbia (Main Stage headliner)
- July 01, 2026: Rockharz Open Air 2026 – Ballenstedt, Germany
- July 03 – 04, 2026: Ilovaari Festival – Joensuu, Finland
- July 24 – 26, 2026: Hills of Rock 2026 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- July 29 – August 01, 2026: Wacken Open Air 2026 – Wacken, Germany
- August 01, 2026: The Piece Hall – Halifax, United Kingdom (supporting Opeth with Katatonia)
- August 07 – 08, 2026: Hellsinki Metal Festival 2026 – Helsinki, Finland
- August 12, 2026: Summer Breeze 2026 – Dinkelsbühl, Germany
- August 13 – 16, 2026: Motocultor Festival 2026 – Carhaix-Plouguer, France
- August 21, 2026: Milagre Metaleiro Open Air 2026 – Pindelo dos Milagres, Portugal
- August 21, 2026: FuriosFest 2026 – Saint Flour, France
- September 26, 2026: MetalItalia Festival 2026 – Trezzo sull’Adda, Italy
- September 27, 2026: Okkult Session 2026 / Okkult V 2026 – Barcelona, Spain
- October 12, 2026: Shibuya Stream Hall – Tokyo, Japan
- October 13, 2026: Shinsaibashi Sunhall – Osaka, Japan
- October 18, 2026: The Triffid – Newstead, Brisbane, Australia
- October 19, 2026: Factory Theatre – Marrickville, Sydney, Australia
- October 20, 2026: Max Watt’s House of Music – Melbourne, Australia
- October 24, 2026: Samhain Festival 2026 – Maastricht, Netherlands
- November 11, 2026: Floyd – Live Music Venue – Athens, Greece
- November 13 – 15, 2026: Malta Metal Weekend 2026 – St. Julian’s, Malta
- November 15, 2026: IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş – Istanbul, Turkey
- November 16, 2026: Milyon Performance Hall – Ankara, Turkey
