REFUSED, AT THE DRIVE-IN: REUNITED! AND IT FEELS SO GOOD!!
We can understand if you, metal people, just switched off your computers and partied all day after hearing Monday’s news that R&B recording artists Monica and Brandy have teamed for their first song since 1998 #1 super-hit “The Boy Is Mine.” But here’s what you missed:
Two of the ’90s most super-loved/short-lived post-punk acts also have reunited! El Paso’s At The Drive-In and Sweden’s Refused. U love! U so happy!
Here’s how it unfolded: At The Drive-In briefly and vaguely announced a return to action early Monday, which was later confirmed when this April’s Coachella music festival released its band line-up that night. Scouring the three-day roster — which repeats the following weekend — we all then noticed that freaking Refused is also on the bill. Moments later came a lengthy explanation of the Refused guys’ move to play together again. (Refused has also confirmed an appearance at the Way Out West festival in Gothenburg.)
It’s a bit of a brain-scrambler, right? ATDI and Refused have a lot in common: Each flared and faded in a blink; each is remembered equally for one blindsidingly awesome album — Relationship Of Command in 2000 and The Shape Of Punk To Come in 1998, respectively — and for unhinged, cataclysmic live shows; each suffered a public, petty break-up.
But as always, we fans need not kick back with cynicism, like these awesome acts are toying with our emotions or lunging at our wallets. Sure, in the last decade these bands’ members talked some angry shit, heartily and regularly dismissed the possibility of reunions, and pledged unshakeable devotion to their new projects. But fuck dude, they were in their 20’s, dumb college kids on drugs and flush with acclaim, burned out by bad business and touring, and then hounded about the big important thing they’d created from thin air that didn’t work out for very long. What do fans expect?
We expect to celebrate, music fans, for now we have more music. Two bands we love are back! It’ll be good you know it.
-ADF
