Delayed Encore

LAST UPDATED: November 25, 2024.

If you've always wanted to see the Rolling Stones, good news: they've played at least 20 shows in 11 of the last 13 years. I am halfway convinced they will never die, and play three shows at the precipice of the heat death of the sun.

However, if you were born after 1975 and grew up listening to the somber wailings and jangle guitars of the Smiths - you likely never got a chance to see Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke (RIP), and Mike Joyce play together even once.

Bands are often forged when the members were young and, slowly, they get on each other's nerves or lose the nerve to play live anymore or, too frequently, lose multiple members to death. We're going to keep a running list of the bands we're waiting in vain to see for the first time or one more time. The list is by no means complete and subject to certain of-the-moment decisions. E.g., Nirvana isn't Nirvana without Kurt Cobain, but a 3/4th assembled The Smiths would qualify. Also, recognizing a failure to recognize Ship of Theseus-style bands that, even if they reformed, they would not worthwhile of recognition. Happy to be wrong about that.

A running list of the bands we're waiting to reform and play.*

*We reserve the right to discount certain half-reformations or one song guest appearance at a member's show.

I am certain there are many bands that should be on this that are not. Please contact me via the Form and identify who else should be on the list. I will more likely include than not include, but don't make it your crusade to take me down if I don't!