Spineshank frontman Jonny Santos has declared that the overwhelming success of the band’s reunion tour is “extremely vindicating.” In a new, candid interview, he explained that the massive, sold-out crowds are a stark contrast to the “demoralizing” final days of the band’s original run, a time when he says nu metal acts were treated like a “f**king pariah.”
Speaking with Rock Music, Man, Santos reflected on the incredible fan response to the band’s current tour, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of their landmark album, The Height of Callousness. He contrasted the current triumph with the bleak music landscape that led to their breakup over a decade ago.
He said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth):
“It’s unreal. The last time we toured, it was a very bad climate for new metal bands of our era, and it was almost demoralizing. When we went out on tour, bands like us, we were like a f**king pariah. And so we came off that last tour, and the morale was just low — low ticket sales, and just we were struggling out there. And that’s when we kind of thought that it was over. So when they asked us to get back together to do this [reunion], we were, like, ‘Are you guys crazy? Do you know what happened on our last tour?’ And now we’re coming out, and the f**king shows — it’s insane. The people are coming out in droves. Our U.K. tour is half sold out already. We just sold out f**king London the other night, and it’s, like, ‘What the f**k is going on?’ So we are extremely blown away.”
For Santos, the successful comeback is a powerful validation for a band from a once-maligned scene.
“It’s just very vindicating, because a lot of bands like us got thrown away during that whole ‘f**k nu metal’ era,” he said. “So it’s really vindicating. I see you people out there, the motherf**kers, you were talking s**t, and now I see you out there going, ‘Oh, Spineshank‘s back.’ I f**king see you. [Laughs]”
Looking to the future, Santos said he “would like to see the band go forward with a couple songs.” Whether they continue or not, he feels the reunion has allowed them to go out on a high note, giving the band a “warrior’s death.” His bandmate, drummer Tommy Decker, recently confirmed in a separate interview that new music is indeed in the works for a 2026 release and that it will sound like “more Spineshank.”
Spineshank 2025 Tour Dates:
With The Union Underground, Julien-K & Carbonstone:
- Sep. 26 – Wichita, KS – Wave
- Sep. 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street
Festival:
- Oct. 05 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock
With Drowning Pool & (hed)p.e.:
- Nov. 06 – Manchester, UK – Academy 2
- Nov. 07 – Northampton, UK – Roadmender
- Nov. 08 – Norwich, UK – The LCR
- Nov. 09 – Newcastle, UK – Boiler Shop
- Nov. 10 – Glasgow, UK – The Garage
- Nov. 12 – Belfast, IRE – Limelight
- Nov. 13 – Dublin, IRE – Academy
- Nov. 14 – Bradford, UK – Nightrain
- Nov. 15 – Wolverhampton, UK – KK’s Steel Mill
- Nov. 14 – Bristol, UK – SWX
- Nov. 16 – Torquay, UK – The Foundry
- Nov. 19 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City
- Nov. 20 – London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
- Nov. 21 – Margate, UK – Dreamland
- Nov. 22 – Brighton, UK – Chalk
- Nov. 23 – Southampton, UK – The 1865
