You know when a band disappears for so long that you don’t expect anything new from them and then suddenly they’re back? That’s like when A Perfect Circle deliver “Starless.” No countdown. No drawn-out campaign. Just a surprise release. Simple.
The band released the new song Wednesday night (May 27), marking their first new song since “Kindred” from 2024’s Sessanta E.P.P.P., the collaborative release that also featured Primus and Puscifer.
Written earlier this year by Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel at Howerdel’s Lankershim Ranch Studio in California, “Starless” features Josh Freese on drums.
“Power hungry/ Cold authority/ Looking out for me/ So they keep telling me,” Keenan sings in the opening verse before the song explodes into a towering chorus.
“That poison worm don’t end/ Gone up under my skin/ Yield and bend/ I’ll become the enemy/ Where am I going?/ How did I get here/ How do I get back?”
“Starless” arrives just days before A Perfect Circle launch their first UK and European tour in eight years, beginning with two sold-out nights at London’s Brixton Academy on June 3 and 4.
“Absolutely chuffed to debut this new track on stage in the UK,” Keenan said. “Of course I’m excited to release the recordings but our songs always take on an expanded personality once we start playing them live.”
Howerdel said the song came together unusually fast compared to the band’s typical writing process.
“Some songs get kicked around and massaged for years,” he explained. “But once in a while, one takes shape quickly, as if it had been there all along.”
The upcoming run includes headline dates across Europe and appearances at festivals including Rock Werchter, Rock Am Ring, Hellfest, NOS Alive, and Mad Cool Festival.
Later this year, A Perfect Circle will team with Puscifer for dates across South America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hawaii.
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A Perfect Circle’s upcoming tour dates include:
JUNE
03 – London, UK O2 Academy Brixton
04 – London, UK O2 Academy Brixton
09 – München, DE Zenith
18 – Zürich, CH Halle622
21 – Düsseldorf, DE Mitsubishi Hall
24 – Amsterdam, NL AFAS Live
JULY
01 – Berlin, DE Zitadelle
07 – Paris, FR Zenith Paris
10 – Madrid, ES Mad Cool Festival
WITH PUSCIFER
NOVEMBER
25 – Mexico City, MX Estadio Fray Nano
28 – Buenos Aires, AR Microestadio Argentinos Juniors
DECEMBER
04 – Adelaide, AU The Drive
06 – Melbourne, AU Rod Laver Arena
10 – Sydney, AU Carriageworks
13 – Auckland, NZ Spark Arena
15 – Tokyo, JP Zepp DiverCity
Earlier this year, Keenan opened up about balancing work between A Perfect Circle, Tool, Puscifer, and his wine company, Caduceus Cellars.
“You only live twice, so I have to – I don’t want to say, ‘Strike while the iron’s hot’ because that sounds like such a Wall Street trader douchebag statement – but when you have the inspiration in front of you, and if you have the energy, you should listen and respond to it. I don’t really see any reason why you shouldn’t,” he said.
“Things are still coming out when they’re ready. Not before they’re ready. So if you just accept that this is your life […] then you just take it day by day. When you need the break, that’s when you take it.”
Keenan also admitted bringing the Sessanta tour featuring A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and Primus overseas has been difficult because of the cost.
“I want to bring it over, but also I feel like Puscifer, A Perfect Circle and Primus all need to come up with a new album, or a new set of songs, or just something to make it more appealing to do it again.”
After eight years away from European stages, is “Starless” the sound of A Perfect Circle stepping fully back into the spotlight?
