The Chameleons Tour North America

Nearly a quarter century had passed between albums from the band The Guardian has called “Manchester’s ultimate cult band.”

And Arctic Moon, the fifth album from the Chameleons, continues to ferment with time into a work that sounds even better than it did upon its initial release in the fall of 2025.

“There is an obvious maturity to the songwriting on this record, and anyone familiar with our past work will hear that this is a positive step forward,” bassist and singer Vox (Mark Burgess) has previously stated. “While we’re proud of the band’s legacy, we really wanted to forge something fresh while retaining that profound and imaginative quality we’re known for. We think that we have managed to do that and deliver a very strong record!”

Now The Chameleons are preparing to head overseas to these shores for a North American tour in support of Arctic Moon that kicks off April 7 at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota — a fitting start for a band with a lot to say.

Rock & Roll Globe caught up with Vox ahead of the kickoff to get his thoughts on touring the United States during the second Trump term, the 40th anniversary of Strange Times, the evolution of the songs on Arctic Moon and more.

Chameleons are Reg Smithies (guitar), Vox (bass, vocals, lyrics), Stephen Rice (guitar), Danny Ashberry (keyboards), and Todd Demma (drums).

See below for full tour dates.

 

You start this North American tour in Minneapolis. How does it feel to be playing there after all that happened with ICE?

Yeah, I mean I really want that show to go well in particular if only to honour Rene Good, Alex Pretti and all of the heroes there that made a stand. That show is going to be particularly special in that regard, I think.

 

How do you feel about touring the United States during these divisive times?

Well anyone that’s familiar with our work and my lyrics in particular will know how so many of our songs relate to what’s happening there now, that I’ve seen this coming for a long time, and that I’ve written about it. Songs like “Swamp Thing,” “Up The Down Escalator,” “A Person Isn’t Safe Anywhere These Days,” “Paradiso” and, more recently, “Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing.” So to be performing these songs in the U.S. in the middle of all of this is poignant to me and I’m excited about it. I suppose it feels like current events give the shows more weight somehow. Of course, they may deny me at the border if the stories about them checking social media posts before granting entry is true and they read mine. I don’t intend to sanitise my social media posts. As a green card resident, I’m protected by the First Amendment just like any regular citizen, not that this administration seems to care that much.

Are there any stops you are most looking forward to? Which ones and why?

Well, I always enjoy New York and we’re going into the same venue we played last year, Warsaw, and we really enjoyed that show, so that’ll be a blast. But, to be honest, we love what we do and enjoy the opportunity to play anywhere, so I’m loath to single any one place out. We get great audiences right across the country.

 

How do you feel these new songs from Arctic Moon have evolved as you’ve been playing them in concert?

Well, playing songs live will always improve the songs in my view. They were written in the studio, and I wish we’d had the chance to go out and play them live a little bit first before actually recording them. But these days with YouTube and social media, we didn’t want to spoil the album before it was even released, so we couldn’t do that; but yeah they get tighter, feel a little more finished, you get the intensity and tension a little more than recordings I imagine, maybe embellish the ideas a little more.

Strange Times turns 40 this year. Are there any plans to commemorate the anniversary?

No one has mentioned it to me so I couldn’t say right now. We have done Strange Times performances in the past and we enjoyed doing them so I suppose if the opportunity arises we may do something.

 

What is your relationship like with the material on Strange Times in 2026?

We still get on well with them 😀 I mean we play songs from that record quite often, I was really proud of the album and still am. I love the Guy Masssey remaster.

 

You also got Why Call It Anything turning 25 this year. How have those songs grown for you since you first worked on them?

Well, on that record, speaking for myself, I liked the songs, but wasn’t a fan of the production, but again some have evolved beyond that early recording and we have enjoyed playing songs from it.

Are you writing any new material as you head out on the road or are you satisfied with Arctic Moon being your current statement at this time?

We’re proud of Arctic Moon and we do feel it’s a strong statement of intent, but we’re eager to get on with writing another one if Arctic Moon does well enough to allow us to. We’ve had a great response via the reviews for once and that’s been very encouraging. As soon as everyone can make themselves available we’ll go in and start writing. We were scheduled for this month (Feb) but some personal family matters got in the way so it’ll probably be Spring or Summer before we can make a start now.

 

What are you listening to these days?

I’ve been listening to Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden again after a long time, I’ve always been a fan, but hadn’t listened to them for a while. I’m also enjoying a band from Italy called Spiritual Front, who I first saw in Athens last year after my partner Ina brought them to my attention. They have great songs and live Simone has a real Johnny Cash, Elvis and Morrissey vibe going on that I really like.

 

Where do you see guitar-based pop and rock heading in the next five years?

Damn, I have no idea. I just hope the younger generation is still finding music that excites them enough to want to pick up guitars and do something fresh. It’s just getting harder for four-piece or five-piece bands to get out on the road and play, because it’s become so expensive and complicated, hopefully guitar bands can weather that storm and find a way.

 

Tour Dates:

Apr 7 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater

Apr 8 Madison, WI Majestic Theatre

Apr 10 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall

Apr 11 Detroit, MI The Magic Stick

Apr 12 Toronto, ON Mod Club

Apr 13 Montreal, QC Théâtre Fairmount

Apr 14 Somerville, MA Crystal Ballroom

Apr 16 Brooklyn, NY Warsaw

Apr 17 Washington, DC Black Cat

Apr 18 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts

Apr 19 Asbury Park, NJ The Stone Pony

Apr 20 Richmond, VA Richmond Music Hall

Apr 21 Durham, NC Motorco Music Hall

Apr 23 Tampa, FL New World Music Hall

Apr 24 Orlando, FL The Social

Apr 25 West Palm Beach, FL Respectable Street

Apr 26 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits

Apr 27 Atlanta, GA Center Stage – The Loft

Apr 28 Nashville, TN The Basement East

Apr 30 Fort Worth, TX Tulips

May 1 Austin, TX Mohawk (outside)

May 2 Houston, TX Numbers

 

VIDEO: The Chameleons “Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing”