In a recent interview on The Break Down With Nath & Johnny, Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher pulled no punches about the challenges of touring in a post-pandemic world. From skyrocketing costs to logistical chaos, Kelliher painted a bleak picture of life on the road in 2024.
“The whole thing is a mess,” Kelliher said bluntly. “During COVID, no one toured, places shut and a lot of people had to change careers. Like tech’s that work for bands went into real estate, others just took regular jobs. It was a f**king disaster.”
The biggest issue of it all? Rising costs. Gas prices are up, truck drivers are in short supply, and everything is more expensive. “During COVID no one toured, a lot of places shut, and a lot of people changed careers,” Kelliher said. “Techs went into real estate or got regular jobs. Everyone was scrambling for money. It was a f**king disaster.””
Touring internationally has also become a financial gamble. Mastodon had to turn down European tours because they’d barely break even. “We turned down a couple of tours in Europe just because we were gonna basically break even,” Kelliher added.
While Mastodon’s recent U.S. tour with Lamb of God was a success, Kelliher said they can’t bring the same production overseas. “We can’t have the huge production we have in the States, go to Europe, and not lose money,” he said. “If we go with lasers, video walls, and fire, we lose money. If we go with a backdrop, we make some money, but the crowds will be disappointed.”
Japan is also difficult. “Two years ago in August, we barely got to Japan because of the cost,” Kelliher said. “Logistics are tough. Japan just started letting people gather in groups again.”
Kelliher also vented about the ongoing issue of venue merchandise cuts. “We’ve been fighting it for years,” he said. “In the contracts, we’d cross that part out. ‘No, we’re not gonna do that.’ We have our own merch crew. They fly with us. But venues still want to charge us to use their equipment. It’s just f**ked.”
Kelliher reflected on how the pandemic has changed the way musicians survive. “People are finding different ways to make money. Like hustling,” he said. “That’s me. I’ve always been a hustler. I didn’t go to college, I didn’t take guitar lessons. I’m just a dude from the streets, figuring out how to make money.”
For Mastodon, the post-pandemic world is a far cry from the glory days of touring. With rising costs, logistical nightmares, and a complicated industry landscape, it seems staying afloat has become a constant battle.
You can watch the interview below.
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