Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale poses at an event to launch Hot Wheels R/C Stealth Rides at The Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles. The band's reunion is so new, they haven't shot new publicity photos yet! / Shea Walsh/AP
6:45 p.m. Friday, Wind Creek Casino Stage
Eight years ago, the members of Bush went their separate ways. The band’s penultimate show was in Pensacola, at the now-defunct Bayfront Auditorium.
Now the band has reunited, and through some strange symmetry, its second show since reuniting is back in Pensacola, on the beach at DeLuna Fest.
Taking their name from Shepherd’s Bush, London, where they once lived, the band has been a dominant force on the alt-rock scene since 1994, when its smash album “Sixteen Stone” spawned an incredible five hit singles: “Everything Zen,” “Little Things,” “Comedown,” “Glycerine” and “Machinehead.” Other pre-split hits included “Swallowed,” “Greedy Fly,” “Mouth” and “The Chemicals Between Us.”
In 1996, the band toured with No Doubt, and frontman and songwriter Gavin Rossdale met his future wife, Gwen Stefani. The couple married in 2002, and have two children.
After Bush split in 2002, Rossdale recorded as a solo artist and with the band Institute with Chris Traynor, who had played guitar on Bush’s final tour. Traynor joins Rossdale in the reunited Bush, which also features original drummer Robin Goodridge and new bassist Corey Britz.
The band’s first studio album in nine yeas, “Everything Always Now,” will be released late this year or early next year.
A few words with Gavin Rossdale
Q: You and your wife are very busy, creative people. How do you juggle work and family?
A: It's just one of those things where it's the journey of a thousand steps. Each day, you do something, and then by the end of a certain amount of time you've amassed a lot of creative input. We're really negligent of each other in that regard. We kind of will tell each other, "is that cool?" If we can do it together, we do, if not, it's "OK, see you when you get back!" There's no mystery to it, it's just doing it.
Q: There's a lot of excitement about Bush returning. What made you decide that now was the right time to get the band back together?
A: Really, when I began to write the songs for the record, I was thinking that it was taking a very powerful shape. I wrote them after I'd been on tour for the solo record, and then I came back off of tour on a Sunday and went right in on a Monday because I was inspired and wanted to work. I started to write these songs, and I was really into it. And I was thinking, "the biggest handicap or the biggest drawback is to be doing it under a solo record and not under Bush." I just wanted to do that, so that was it.
Q: What was the reaction when you approached your old bandmates?
A: I asked them all, and Robin was really into it. Dave (Parsons, former bassist) kind of wanted to check and see what he could do and what the work would be, and Nigel (Pulsford, former lead guitarist) has never really wanted to do much — he just wants to record in the studio and doesn't like to go on tour. That seemed a bit not right. So great reaction from Robin and myself and Chris, so we just decided to do it.
The album is done and we're basically trying to choose the tracks. I just can't wait for it to get out.
Q: How are you feeling about getting ready to hit the road?
A: We've begun rehearsals and are trying to figure out what to play. We have a huge catalog plus 19 new songs. Obviously, we won't be playing 19 new songs people don't know, but certainly a few new songs would be good. For Bush to come back and play in the great Pensacola, we've got to play what we've played there before and what they've come to see. Bottom line, people want to hear what they know — as do I when I go see a show.
Q: Your next to last show before Bush split was in Pensacola, and now your second show back is in Pensacola. Wacky coincidence?
A: (Deadpans) We planned it, and it took a lot of planning. No, it's great. Florida is a fantastic place to play. I think the sexy heat makes people open to the whole rock thing. I've always had a great time playing there.
