Refused Are F*cking Dead Again as They Announce Farewell Tour
Well, it was fun while it lasted. Legendary Swedish band Refused are once again slinking back into the silence of oblivion, as they just announced an end to their latest run together. After 12 years back following their reunion run in 2012, the band released two studio records, got involved in video game soundtracks, and overall just kicked copious amounts of ass for an entirely new generation.
Though the news comes roughly three months after vocalist Dennis Lyxzén suffered a major heart attack, drummer David Sandström revealed that they’d already been planning the band’s second finale.
“We were supposed to do this in June. Roll out our modest farewell run, starting with the Rosendal Garden Party in Stockholm and then doing a few shows here and there before calling it quits end of year.”
Now, with Lyxzén “doing great,” the band felt it was time to put their plans in motion and make the announcement that after some shows next year, they’re pulling the plug.
Originally founded back in 1991, the Refused’s initial run continued until 1998, where they released three studio albums that culminated in the insanely influential The Shape of Punk to Come. That album was a commercial flop and the ensuing U.S. tour saw low attendance figures, which ultimately led to the band breaking up about half way through their run of shows in Atlanta, Georgia.
Eventually, The Shape of Punk to Come gained popularity just a year after its release. But it wasn’t until 2012 when they would get back together, playing shows at Coachella and touring with bands like Faith No More. They eventually went on to release two studio albums, Freedom and War Music. Their music was also featured in Cyberpunk 2077.
But that’s all prelude. Looking to the future, the band announced that they’ve got a number of U.S. shows planned for March 2025, after which they’ll end things as a band for good. They also still have plans to release a special 25th anniversary edition of The Shape of Punk to Come this November, with a limited collector’s edition packed to the gills with a buncha extra shit, including a version of the album that features covers from artists like Gel, Zulu, IDLES, and more. Only 2,000 copies of the 3LP release will be made, so be sure to preorder your copy today.
“Whatever the record means to everyone else, it represents a remarkable time in our lives when we were young and devil-may-care, we were taking risks, wanting to prove our mettle, and more than anything else we want to celebrate that: the madness, the wild combinations, the pure creativity of it all. So we asked a bunch of artists we love and respect to actually take liberties with the songs and either rearrange or deconstruct the material completely, to take the engine apart essentially and not be precious about it. And they weren’t, and to us this is the only tribute to our record that matters: heroes of ours, young guns as well as old friends and peers complimenting our music by uncovering new possibilities and new meaning within it. These bands are all caviar for the general and we are honored they took time to be a part of this. Thank you all.”
You can find the full list of remaining tour dates below.
Refused Farewell Tour Dates (2025)
Supported by Quicksand
March 21 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
March 23 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
March 25 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
March 27 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
March 28 – Los Angeles, CA – Shrine Expo Hall
March 29 – Del Mar, CA – The Sound
March 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theatre
April 1 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
April 2 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union Event Center
April 4 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
April 5 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
April 7 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
April 8 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
April 10 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
