DevilDriver frontman Dez Fafara has opened up about the band’s upcoming joint tour with Cradle of Filth. He explained how the collaboration came together.
Fafara revealed that both bands were originally set to tour at the same time. This prompted them to join forces rather than compete against each other in the same market.
“So rather than us literally go against each other in the United States… we decided to throw it together,” Fafara said. “We were called by a few people like, ‘I don’t know if this is going to work.’ It just happened to really work. We were both going to come down at the same time. So we said we should just throw it together, get into bigger rooms and do it.”
Fafara also spoke about why the pairing resonated so strongly with fans from both camps.
“It just happened to really work. Our fans love them, their fans love us. There’s something really special,” he continued. “It’s not the same five bands that sound the same every night – you’re getting something very unique.”
The joint tour between DevilDriver and Cradle of Filth is set to bring both fanbases together for what Fafara describes as a distinctly unique live experience.
The tour is officially dubbed “Double Trouble” and is already underway. The Australian leg kicked off this week, with stops in Brisbane at The Tivoli on July 9, Sydney at the Enmore Theatre on July 10, Melbourne at the Forum on July 11, Adelaide at Hindley Street Music Hall on July 14, and Perth at The Astor on July 16.
Adding to the momentum, DevilDriver is releasing a new single titled “Strike And Kill” on July 10 through Napalm Records. The release is timed to coincide with the band’s Sydney date, giving fans both a live spectacle and fresh material simultaneously.
A second US leg has already been announced for October. It features support from Ill Nino, Black Satellite, and Savage Existence, with dates confirmed in cities including Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Charlotte. This makes clear that the partnership between the two bands extends well beyond a one-off regional outing.
By combining their audiences, both bands are able to play larger venues while delivering a bill that stands apart from the standard touring package. Pairing a California groove metal outfit with a British extreme metal institution creates a contrast that few tours can match.
For fans of heavy music on both sides of the Atlantic, the Double Trouble tour represents one of the more compelling live propositions of 2026. It is a collaboration born out of scheduling practicality that has evolved into something far more significant.
