Butthole Surfers to release shelved 1998 album formed in San Antonio

San Antonio’s beloved psychedelic freak-rock band, the Butthole Surfers, is finally releasing their shelved 1998 album, After the Astronaut. This album was originally intended to follow their surprise hit, Electric Larryland, but was canceled by Capitol Records despite being fully finished. The band, led by guitarist Paul Leary and singer Gibby Haynes, faced an uncomfortable situation when the album didn’t meet the label’s expectations. They later re-recorded the tracks for a 2001 LP titled Weird Revolution on Hollywood Records, a Disney-affiliated label.

Weird Revolution received mixed reviews, with critics expressing their disappointment in the album’s thin music. Despite this, fans were ambivalent, and the Butthole Surfers haven’t released a studio album since. Now, the band is excited to finally release the original tracks from After the Astronaut on Sunset Boulevard Records this summer, as intended.

Drummer King Coffey recalls the joy of working on After the Astronaut, likening it to their experimental roots. The band had the freedom to play with digital toys, similar to their earlier work on Locust Abortion in 1987. They weren’t concerned about radio airplay and enjoyed the creative process within the major label ecosystem.

To promote the upcoming album, the Butthole Surfers released a music video for their trip-hop single “Jet Fighter.” This psychedelic clip-art fever dream was directed by underground Texas filmmaker Jeffrey Garcia. Fans and followers of the band can look forward to the album’s release on June 26.

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