Acid Bath, which plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 28, 2025. Credit: Photo c/o Secret Service PR

As is the case with an unfortunate amount of bands, the tale of Acid Bath’s end is nothing short of tragic.

In 1997, just as the sludge-metal outfit was making a name for itself, bassist Audie Pitre was killed by a drunk driver. Understandably, all that followed was 27 years of radio silence.

Last year, surviving members announced a grand return for Las Vegas’ Sick New World Festival, and even though the entire event was axed, the boys are living up to their promise to come back by playing a fistful of dates with Crowbar bassist Shane Wesley.

Before the band’s Saturday show at Jannus Live (one of only 14 scheduled for the rest of the year), founding guitarist Mike Sanchez recalled the best gig he ever saw. Read his full quote below.

ZZ Top, January 4, 1991 at UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. Black Crowes opened. That was the first concert that truly blew me away. I had seen Van Halen before and a couple other bands of that nature, but Billy Gibbons…the way he sang and played guitar, everything just seemed fucking magical. It made me want to be him.—Mike Sanchez, Acid Bath

Tickets to see Acid Bath, Weedeater and Rwake play St. Pete’s Jannus Live on Saturday, June 28 are sold-out.