Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows recently sat down to discuss the bands upcoming 2023 tour on the Jaxxon Podcast. During the interview, the singer touched on the topic of how travel pricing has changed since the last time the band toured seven years ago. Shadows mentions how the band as well as other bands are facing post-pandemic price surges that are not only effecting them but the fans as well.
"It's completely different than the last time we toured. We toured seven years ago and it was one way. Now we've noticed that the crew costs more, the production costs more, the buses cost more, ticket prices are going up: people aren't happy about it. Everything costs more." On this tour M. Shadows mentions how the buses alone will cost $2 million dollars more that the last time they toured!
The singer goes on to discuss examples of other major acts such as Godsmack, who recently canceled their South American tour due to touring costs verses ticket sales. Shadows gives an example of a band going overseas to tour on the business side of things saying "Ok, I'm gonna go here for a month and make no money, or lose money. And so you're starting to see a lot of bands cancel tours of Europe , cancel South America. The states are already hard enough." M. Shadows goes on to mention how pricing continues to go up. So where does that band (as a business) make up that money back? Well, unfortunately it trickles down to the fans in the ticket pricing, and t-shirt prices.
"So everything's changed. It's gonna be interesting, to be honest. I mean who knows? It used to be the way….With Napster and all of these things that came out and took music purchasing from the artist, which I think is a good thing-I think streaming is amazing; I think it's the greatest thing that's ever happened-then everyone said 'Well, we're buying t-shirts, and we're buying tour tickets.' But now things are going the way of the economy."
Shinedown, Anthrax, and other major artists are facing the same dilemma with rising costs and lack of ticket sales (Anthrax being a recent example). Unfortunately fans are facing the same dilemma in their everyday lives and living costs. With the pricing of rent, food, gas, and other needs continuing to go up, fans are faced with the hard choice of cutting extra costs out to survive. Usually the first things cut out of someones budget is entertainment. However, entertainment is most peoples release. Live concerts are a great get away from a person's everyday struggles where they can just go and have a great time watching their favorite bands tear it up on stage and forget about everything going on in their life. But you also have to look at the bands struggles. This is their business, their survival, and now they are faced with inflation as well in their personal and professional lives. So how do they keep the train rolling? Ticket sales, and other streams of revenue it's as simple as that. But unfortunately it affects their profits as well.
Avenged Sevenfold's new album Life is But a Dream was written and recorded over the span of the last four years, and will be available on June 2 via Warner. The band has sold over 10 million records worldwide, and has two consecutive No. 1 albums on Billboard's top 200 chart (2010's Nightmare and 2013's Hail To The King). Avenged Sevenfold also has over a billion-plus streams on Spotify, and numerous No. 1 singles on Rock Radio, as well as over a billion video views.
The band is known for putting on big production shows across the globe. They've sold out arenas, headlined the biggest festivals in the world, and have a gigantic following. This summer Avenged Sevenfold will hit the road with Alexisonfire for their first run in the U.S. and Canada. Their second run will be featuring support from Falling In Reverse produced by Live Nation.
Even though ticket prices are at an all time high, Avenged Sevenfold will surely give you more than your money's worth! Get your tickets here.
w/ Falling In Reverse
7/18 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
7/19 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
7/21 – Québec City, QC – Videotron Centre
7/22 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
7/24 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
7/26 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
7/28 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/29 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
7/31 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
8/2 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
8/4 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
8/5 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
8/7 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
w/ Alexisonfire
9/16 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
9/17 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
9/19 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
9/20 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
9/22 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
9/25 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO
9/26 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
9/28 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena (no Falling In Reverse)
9/30 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
10/2 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
10/3 – Portland, OR – MODA Center
10/7 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/8 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/10 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
10/12 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
10/13 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
10/15 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
