Candlebox frontman Kevin Martin recently opened up about the band’s decision to reverse their retirement plans. He shared his thoughts in an interview on the Stupid And Contagious Podcast.
Martin explained his initial mindset about stepping away from music. He also discussed what ultimately changed his perspective on the band’s future.
“I was done [in 2023]. We were putting out the record and we were going out with 3 Doors Down, and I really wanted to focus on my family and my relationship with my wife and son more, and I was also releasing this bourbon and I wanted to focus on it,” Martin said. “And I just kind of felt like I was done with this music business.”
Martin revealed how circumstances quickly shifted his outlook on retirement.
“And then the minute you say that, your value becomes tenfold. An then I was asked to go out with Bush, and, of course, Gavin [Rossdale, Bush frontman] and I have been friends since the ’90s, and I was, like, ‘I can’t pass up on that.’ And it was [also] with Jerry Cantrell [on the bill],” he continued. “And then it kind of all kickstarted again. And my wife’s, like, ‘Look, you know you’re not done with this.’ And then Pete’s [original Candlebox guitarist Peter Klett], like, ‘Hey, man, I’d like to come back.’ So, yes, it’s now — we’re calling it the ‘We Can’t Quit You, Babe’ tour. I mean, f*cking Rainbow said they were retiring. So did The Who, KISS…”
Martin also outlined the band’s upcoming plans and touring schedule.
“We have rehearsals starting in February. We’re only doing a short spring run, because Pete and I are working on a new record,” he said. “So, that spring run will be short and sweet, but we’re working on a big summer thing and a fall tour. We’re also doing South America. I think we’re working on Europe for ’27, depending on how the record does, all that sort of stuff. [We’ll] keep ourselves busy.”
The band had previously announced their farewell tour. They released what they called their final album nearly three years ago.
Martin’s decision to continue with Candlebox reflects the band’s enduring legacy in the rock music scene. This particularly highlights their significant role in the grunge movement of the 1990s.
Yardbarker reported that Candlebox hailed from Seattle as part of a second wave of grunge that was more commercial and pop-tinged than their predecessors. This positioning helped them carve out a unique niche in the crowded alternative rock landscape of the early 1990s.
The band’s commercial success was substantial during their peak years. Yardbarker noted that their self-titled debut album from 1993 went multi-platinum. This established them as a major force in the rock music industry.
The return of original guitarist Peter Klett marks a significant reunion for the band’s classic lineup. Klett’s involvement in the new material and upcoming tours suggests that Candlebox is committed to recapturing the sound and energy that made them successful in the first place.
Martin’s mention of other legendary bands like Rainbow, The Who, and KISS having similar retirement reversals highlights a common pattern in rock music. Artists often find it difficult to permanently step away from performing and creating music.
