Dax Riggs: Acid Bath “Never Really Broke Up”
This past October, we were all shocked to learn that Acid Bath was back and gearing up to play some big time festivals and a couple gigs in the Big Easy. It was completely unexpected, given the fact that they hadn’t played together since 1997.
Now comprised of guitarist Sammy Duet, vocalist Dax Riggs and guitarist and vocalist Mike Sanchez alongside new members drummer Zack Simmons of Goatwhore, and ex-Agents Of Oblivion bassist Alex Bergeron, the band is back with a vengeance.
While speaking with New Noise Magazine, Riggs said the reunion of sorts was always bound to happen. All they needed was some time between them and the tragic death of bassist Audie Pitre.
“We never really broke up… I didn’t want to play anymore shows when our bass player Audie Pitre was killed by a drunk driver. I didn’t want to live in that sadness forever. I wanted to do something different at that time. It’s still there but it’s a distant pain. For the first time since that trauma, it sounded like fun to get together. Now it’s kind of like a reunion of old friends so there’s a sweetness to it.”
Pitre was killed in a motor vehicle accident in which a drunk driver crashed into the car that Pitre was in on January 23, 1997. Both of his parents also died in the accident, with only his brother Kelly making it out of the crash with just a broken rib and mild neck fracture.
Back in 2014 there were rumors that Acid Bath would be getting back together, but the surviving band members refuted those rumors by saying there “is no Acid Bath without Audie Pitre, so there will never be ‘new’ Acid Bath material.”
While it remains a sad fact that Pitre lost his life so suddenly, it’s great to see the surviving members get back together to play some shows. You can find out where they’ll be playing later this year in the list of dates below.
Acid Bath live shows
4/25 New Orleans, LA The Fillmore (w/ Eyehategod)
4/30 New Orleans, LA The Fillmore (w/ Exhorder)
5/8-11 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival
5/15-18 Daytona Beach, FL Welcome To Rockville
7/18-20 Mansfield, OH Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival
9/18-21 Louisville, KY Louder Than Life
