Despite previously billing The Long Goodbye as their farewell tour and final album, Candlebox have no plans to step away from the road anytime soon.
Singer Kevin Martin was a guest of the Stupid And Contagious Podcast and admitted he genuinely believed he was finished back in 2023. “I was done,” he said, explaining that he wanted to focus on family life and other projects outside music. “I just kind of felt like I was done with this music business.”
That mindset didn’t last long.
Offers to tour with Bush and Jerry Cantrell quickly changed the equation, alongside encouragement from those closest to him. “My wife was like, ‘You know you’re not done with this,’” Martin said, adding that original guitarist Peter Klett’s interest in returning helped reignite the band. “So yeah, now we’re calling it the ‘We Can’t Quit You, Babe’ tour.”
Martin confirmed Candlebox is gearing up to hit the road again, with rehearsals starting in February. A short spring run is planned, followed by a larger summer and fall tour, alongside dates in South America and potential European shows in 2027. He also revealed that he and Klett are currently working on a new record.
Reflecting on how touring has changed since Candlebox’s 1993 debut, Martin said the modern landscape is far tougher. “It’s a hell of a lot harder. It’s a hell of a lot more expensive,” he explained, citing rising costs, social media pressure, and the financial imbalance of touring. “My daily nut to tour is $22,000. That’s a day.”
Candlebox released A Little Longer Goodbye (Tour Edition) in July 2024 via Round Hill Records, expanding The Long Goodbye with live tracks and the single Washed Up.
Martin has previously spoken openly about why he considered retirement in the first place, describing a personal reset during the pandemic. “I realized I had put far too much emphasis on the wrong syllable,” he said in 2023, noting that family had taken a back seat to his career.
Ultimately, the decision to continue came down to integrity. “I don’t ever want to be a performer that phones it in,” Martin said. “If we’re still playing great shows, making good music, and having a blast, then it’s worth doing.”
Great news, right? Candlebox isn’t done! Woooooo!
