Tim Armstrong
Photo by GLK Photo

With their new record nearing completion, the punk rock veterans Rancid are turning their attention towards a new project—a summer tour that will mark their first live shows since 2006. Rancid—Tim Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Lars Frederiksen (vocals, guitar), Matt Freeman (bass, vocals) and Branden Steineckert (drums)—have spend the last few months working on their seventh studio album.

Working with Epitaph president Brett Gurewitz, who helmed the project as producer, and mixer Joe Barresi (Tool, Bad Religion), the album is slated for release later this year.

Rancid depart on April 5 for a week of shows in Japan, a mini-tour which includes headlining the Punkspring festival in Tokyo and Osaka, reuniting Rancid with 15,000 of their closest friends each night.

It has been two years since the last Rancid tour, and five years since the last Rancid record. Read the rest of this entry »