Butthole Surfers to Release Long-Shelved Album After the Astronaut

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Butthole Surfers are set to unveil their long-shelved album After the Astronaut on June 26th. The LP was slated to follow 1996’s Electric Larryland, but its released was thwarted by the band’s record label at the time due its lack of “commercial” appeal.

As guitarist Paul Leary explains, “We were pretty stoked to make another album after the success of our previous album and its single ‘Pepper.’ Capitol Records was stoked to get that next record until our relationship soured.”

After some legal wrangling, the band was released from their contract with Capitol Records, and inked a deal with Hollywood Records to release the album. However, Hollywood Records asked the band to rework the album, and it was released as Weird Revolution in 2001.

“Hollywood Records bought the album but wanted to make changes to it which was an uncomfortable experience for us,” added Leary. “Now we have the right to release the original recording the way we intended it to be with its original title, After The Astronaut.”

As a press release notes, during the making of After the Astronaut, Butthole Surfers “submerged their creativity deeper into electronics, industrial beats, acid grooves, and other synthesized sci-fi sounds.”

The band’s lineup for After the Astronaut consisted of Leary, singer Gibby Haynes, and drummer King Coffey, all of whom remain members of the band. Bassist Jeff Pinkus was out of Butthole Surfers at the time, but has since rejoined the group.

Along with announcing the album’s release, Butthole Surfers have released the single “Jet Fighter.” Watch the video, and see the artwork and tracklist for After the Astronaut, below.