Candlebox might’ve called it The Long Goodbye… but they’re not walking offstage just yet.
If you missed it, singer Kevin Martin was recently taking to Clint Switzer of “On The Road To Rock” and confirmed the band is already deep into the next chapter, with new music underway following their 2023 “final” album.
“We have eight songs now,” Martin said. “We’re working on a couple more, looking at singles this year, and then a full album next year.”
Part of that renewed spark comes from the return of original guitarist Peter Klett, whose presence has reshaped the band’s chemistry, especially onstage.
“It’s like old times,” Martin said. “When he plays, I sing the song exactly how it was meant to be sung. It’s wild. There’s something about him that just brings it all back.”
That energy has helped reignite a band that, not long ago, was ready to shut it down.
Back in 2023, Martin was prepared to step away, focusing on family life after decades on the road. But the pull of music and a run of tours alongside Bush and Jerry Cantrell flipped the switch again.
“Once you say you’re done, everything comes back around,” he admitted. “Now it’s the ‘We Can’t Quit You, Babe’ tour.”
Even so, the reality of touring in 2026 isn’t what it used to be.
“It’s a hell of a lot harder. A hell of a lot more expensive,” Martin said, pointing to skyrocketing costs across the board. “My daily nut to tour is $22,000. That’s just to get down the road.”
From inflated bus rentals to rising hotel rates and merchandise costs, the economics have shifted dramatically since the band’s early ’90s breakout.
“There’s this expectation now,” he added. “Fans want you everywhere. And we’d love to hit every town. But it’s just not possible.”
Despite those challenges, Candlebox isn’t fading quietly.
The band released a deluxe edition of The Long Goodbye in 2024, and what was meant to be a closing chapter has turned into something else entirely… a reset.
For Martin, the perspective shift started during the pandemic, when time at home forced him to re-evaluate everything.
“I realized I hadn’t given my family what they needed… which was me,” he said. “I thought I was ready to wrap it up. But I also knew I never wanted to be the guy phoning it in onstage.”
Turns out, he’s not that guy. Not yet.
