PUP RELEASE FIRST SINGLE/VIDEO IN 2 YEARS “PARANOID”
CANADIAN ARENA TOUR WITH SUM 41 THIS MONTH
Toronto punk heroes PUP— comprised of Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula, and Steve Sladkowski— released their fourth album, The Unraveling of Puptheband, in 2022. The album earned PUP universal acclaim, countless Top 10 Billboard chart positions including #1 Heatseekers, Top New Artists Albums and Alternative New Artist Albums, and a slew of sold-out shows across the globe. They’re keeping it going with an arena tour with Sum 41 through January, so to celebrate they return today with a new single. The explosive, John Congleton-produced track “Paranoid” is out now, and is PUP’s first new release in two years.
Babcock says of the new single: “My favourite part of this song is the breakdown 1:45 in. It’s the heaviest moment in the song, Zack and Steve are going so hard, I’m yelling about all this sad stuff that’s going on with me, and Nestor is just playing the melody from ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ on the bass. It cracks me up every time I hear it. So fucking funny. It’s a very PUP moment.”
“Paranoid” is accompanied by an ingenious music video by long-time PUP collaborator Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux, who said: “What started out as a way to keep the bruising and heartbreaking lyrics to ‘Paranoid’ front and center turned into a little love letter for rock band merchandise and the unsung heroes who run the merch table. Special thanks to co-director Clem Hoeney and all the real PUP fans who came out and went so hard for a hundred takes!”
Can’t wait that long? Well, do we have a solution for you! Introducing MORE BAD STUFF – A PUPTHEBAND Substack. A reincarnation of the band’s zine series PUPTHEZINE, this substack will be an ongoing digital version or, as they like to call it, “PUPTHEBAND’S brand new digital hellscape.” They will use it to post unreleased songs, discuss writing process, play-through tracks, comics, old photos, live recordings, tour stories and more. The first two posts, featuring the original 4-song EP of pre-PUP band Topanga and some Built To Spill covers by Stefan, are out now.
Tour Dates
01/10/25 – Victoria, BC @ Save On Foods Memorial Centre ^
01/11/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena ^
01/13/25 – Kelowna, BC @ Prospera Place ^
01/16/25 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome ^
01/17/25 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place ^
01/18/25 – Saskatoon, SK @ Sasktel Centre ^
01/20/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Place ^
01/23/25 – St. Catharines, ON @ Meridian Centre ^
01/24/25 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre ^
01/25/25 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell ^
01/27/25 – London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens ^
01/28/25 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena ^
01/30/25 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena ^
05/07/25 – Birmingham, UK @ XOYO Birmingham * %
05/08/25 – Leeds, UK @ Project House * %
05/10/25 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz * %
5/11/25 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 (TV Studio) * %
05/12/25 – Newcastle, UK @ Newcastle University * %
05/13/25 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory * %
05/15/25 – Southampton, UK @ Engine Rooms * %
05/16/25 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town * %
05/18/25 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg *
05/20/25 – Cologne, DE @ Club Volta *
05/21/25 – Hamburg, DE @ Logo *
05/22/25 – Berlin, DE @ Hole44 *
05/23/25 – Munich, DE @ Strom *
05/25/25 – Paris, FR @ Bellevilloise *
05/27/25 – Madrid, ES @ Sala Mon
05/28/25 – Barcelona, ES @ Upload
05/29/25 – València, ES @ Loco Club
05/30/25 – San Sebastian, ES @ Dabadaba
^ with Sum 41
* with Illuminati Hotties
% with Goo
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Martyna Wisniewska
