Nu-metal originals Coal Chamber haven’t performed live since 2015. That will change next year when the band reunited for an appearance at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas on a bill that includes System Of A Down, Incubus, Korn, Evanescence and Deftones.
Singer Dez Fafara had previously said Coal Chamber was finished and started performing Coal Chamber songs with his band, Devildriver.
“Coal Chambers not coming back,” he said years ago in an interview with KCAL 96.7. “It is what it is. And I’m not gonna wait another 15-20 years to sing the songs that gave me gold records and allowed me a career. And I say it every night, ‘Look, this song gave me gold records on my walls and you people out here gave me a career. Thank you for both of them. Let’s get loco.'”
It now appears, however, that whatever had kept the band from progressing is behind them. All four members commented on the reunion on social media.
Fafara took to his Twitter to write simply: “#coalchamber is back #thatisall”.
Guitarist Miguel “Meegs” Rascón wrote: “My brothers and sister. Back together, w all the love in the world. Cant wait to play for all the fans who have been there for us and loyal. We love u all! #coalchamber #sicknewworld”.
Bassist Nadja Peulen added: “Excited to share the stage with my brothers again! COAL CHAMBER live in Las Vegas 2023 @sicknewworld festival. Register now for Presale that starts Friday November 11th 10am PT. @coalchamberofficial @dezfafara @meegsrascon @mikeycoxofficial @nadjapeulen #coalchamber”.
Drummer Mike Cox wrote a lengthier post: “GOOD LORD what a line up!!! Well this is definitely something I thought I would never post again in my life!!! I am rarely on social media anymore as it is…..”
“Quick recap as it will be therapeutic for me !!! After our last tours in 2015 I was coming off stage very depressed and wanting to be home with my young son. I was missing a lot and it started to really get to me. I made the decision , that if we stop again it was my last time ever playing again. After our last show ,it was over … and that’s what I did. I completely retired from music and began focusing on my family life and raising our son . With the tremendous support and encouragement from my wife we moved to a new city …..Bought a new house ,and my construction company is booming…. Everything was exactly where we wanted it to be . After YEARS of hard work , therapy, sobriety , 2 elbow surgeries, I found extreme peace with not being a musician anymore.“
“Over the years I kept in contact with @dezfafara and I feel like for the first time in 25 years we actually became real friends. Both our families went through A LOT over the past years and we were actually there for each other. We actually listen to each other and that means more than any band at this point in my life . That slowly changed the conversation of starting to play again… and here we are!!!”
“I really thought about this decision for a long time with my family and what it meant to jump back in and this was a family decision. Our son is older now and always asks about what I used to do… now I can just show him all the crazy hardcore Coal Chamber fans we have out there!!!. It’s an exciting time for us all the future looks bright!”
