High On Fire’s Matt Pike and Jeff Matz Remember Riley Gale: “He Was a Total Badass”
This August, it will be four years since metal lost a real one with the death of Power Trip frontman Riley Gale. Sadly, narcotics — specifically fentanyl — robbed us of one of the most electric performers in the last decade. It’s a loss that High On Fire and Sleep frontman Matt Pike reflected on during a recent interview with Consequence Heavy.
The late frontman came up during the interview as Pike reminisced about High On Fire’s tour with Power Trip back in 2019. Having had a front row seat to the firestorm that was Power Trip and Gale specifically, Pike said the late vocalist’s presence on stage was undeniable.
“Riley was a one of a kind dude — he was a Bon Scott punk rock. And I thought he was a little shit when I first met him [laughs]. I think I was calling him that, I’m all like, ‘You’re a little shit, aren’t you?’
“And we ended up being pretty good friends along that tour. And yeah, [his passing] was tragic. But he was a born frontman. He was a total badass. I was blown away watching him perform.”
High On Fire and Mutoid Man bassist Jeff Matz echoed Pike’s sentiments, stating that he specifically remembers Gale’s personality on and off the stage as well.
“Riley was a really sweet and genuine guy, and I really enjoyed hanging out with him on that tour. ”It was really inspiring watching him do his thing; he had incredible command of the audience, crazy stage presence.”
In the wake of Gale’s death, the remaining band members have since teamed up with Fugitive and Skourge vocalist Seth Gilmore to play some Power Trip “reunion” shows. And while some fans and even Gale’s own family initially had some concerns about those shows, they’re going to go on anyway.
Of those shows, Matz said he fully supported seeing Power Trip continue in some capacity.
“I’m glad to see that his bandmates are continuing Power Trip. And I do hope that we have the opportunity to play with them at some point down the road.”
High On Fire recently released their latest full-length album Cometh The Storm, on which they’re touring the U.S. right now. You can find the dates below.
High on Fire ‘Cometh the Storm’ spring U.S. tour
(w/ Zeta, High Command)
May 10 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage
May 11 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place
May 12 Jersey City, NJ White Eagle Hall
May 13 Cambridge, MA The Middle East
May 15 Albany, NY Empire Live
May 16 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop
May 17 Detroit, MI The Magic Stick
May 18 Chicago, IL 3 Floyd’s Brewing (Dark Lord Day feat. High on Fire, Abbath, Fugitive, 1349, Spiritworld)
High on Fire EU and UK tour
Jun 04: CZ Brno Kabinet MUZ
Jun 10: DE Hamburg Bahnhof Pauli
Jun 11: DE Cologne Gebäude 9
Jun 12: NL Nijmegen Doornroosje
Jun 14: UK London Islington Assembly Hall
Jun 15: UK Manchester Rebellion
Jun 16: UK Glasgow Slay
Jun 17: UK Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Jun 18: UK Bristol Thekla
Jun 20: FR Wasquehal The Black Lab
Jun 25: FR Toulouse Le Metronum
Jun 26: ES Bilbao Kafe Antzokia
Jul 02: DE Aschaffenburg Colos Saal
Jul 03: CH Dudingen Bad Bonn
Jul 04: IT Torino Ziggy
Jul 06: AT Vienna Arena
