You could hear the ticket servers sweating this week. U2 went back to stadiums, Powderfinger built a circus tent the size of one, and John Fogerty signed up to warm up football fields for a country star. After years of residencies and “intimate evenings,” rock decided the answer is bigger. The rest of the week reminded us how fragile the people making all that noise really are.
This week’s thesis: rock is going big again, and nobody is asking permission.
U2 trade the Sphere for the sky
U2 announced The Greatest Show On Earth World Tour, opening in February 2027 with stadium double-headers in Mexico City, São Paulo and Buenos Aires, with Beck as support. It rides in behind Carnaval De Luz, out November 13 and the band’s first original album since 2017’s Songs of Experience. Europe and North America dates are promised soon; the U2.com presale opens Monday, October 19, with general sale Thursday, October 22.
ZRock take: Vegas was a science project. This is U2 remembering they were built for wide open spaces.
Sources: Consequence, Ultimate Classic Rock
Powderfinger pitch the big top
Seventeen years after their Sunsets Farewell tour ended in Brisbane, Powderfinger are back with 18 shows across Australia from September to October 2027, all inside a travelling, stadium-sized big top billed as a rock n roll circus. Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne all get a turn. General on-sale is Monday, October 19.
ZRock take: A reunion with an actual idea attached. Take notes, everyone else.
Sources: InDaily (AAP), Billboard
Fogerty goes to the ballpark with Zach Bryan
John Fogerty will open 11 stadium dates on Zach Bryan’s 2027 tour, from Minneapolis on April 28 to Buffalo on June 2, after three February nights at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. He’s calling each stop an “all night revival.” Tickets go on sale October 23. On Monday we marked CCR’s 1972 breakup; 54 years on, the songs are filling stadiums again.
ZRock take: The country kids know exactly where the swamp came from. Get there early.
Sources: Consequence, Ultimate Classic Rock
Fontaines D.C. let Rosalía into the chamber
The Dublin band’s fifth album, Dopamine Chamber, is out today on XL, produced by James Ford. Its curveball is “Where Is Gone?”, a string-soaked, Bond-sized ballad with Rosalía, the first guest feature ever on a Fontaines record. It follows the Mercury-shortlisted Romance.
ZRock take: The new class isn’t waiting for a seat at the legends’ table. They’re building a bigger one.
Waters vs. Hetfield: the feud nobody needed (and everybody clicked)
At Metallica’s Sphere show on October 10, James Hetfield told the crowd the band wasn’t there to push messages on anyone. Roger Waters fired back on The Katie Halper Show, calling Hetfield “a complete prick” and dismissing him as no musician at all.
ZRock take: Rock has always been political. It has also always been allowed to just be loud. Both men know that.
Sources: Louder, Ultimate Classic Rock
The Voice of Rock is home
Glenn Hughes shared that he’s back home after a 10-hour open-heart surgery and eight days in hospital at UCLA. He stepped away from live performance in August to put his health first.
ZRock take: No encore required, Glenn. Just get well.
Sources: Ultimate Classic Rock, Blabbermouth
Farewell, David Surkamp
Pavlov’s Dog confirmed that their singer and co-founder David Surkamp died on October 13, aged 73. His unmistakable high voice carried 1975’s Pampered Menial and “Julia,” a cult prog record that never stopped finding new fans.
ZRock take: Put on “Julia” tonight. Loud.
Sources: VICE, That Eric Alper
Your turn
U2 in a stadium, Powderfinger in a big top, or Fogerty opening for Zach Bryan: which 2027 ticket are you buying first? And whose side are you on, Waters or Hetfield? Tell us in the comments.
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