Faced with rising touring costs in a post-pandemic world, Mastodon is making difficult decisions to preserve its economic viability, including declining some tours in Europe.
The financial challenges of post-pandemic touring
In a recent interview with Ultimate GuitarMastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher has opened up about the financial hurdles the band faces while touring. Although a major player in the Metal scene, Mastodon sits in an “in-between zone”, where their concert revenues are often absorbed by high production costs.
“We make a certain amount of money each night, but we spend almost the same to produce the show,” explains Kelliher. “I can't go on tour and not win anything. I have to work to feed my family.”
The band invests heavily in their shows to provide a memorable experience for their fans, but this poses logistical and financial challenges, especially when it comes to touring Europe.
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Why Mastodon avoids Europe
Kelliher details the reasons why Mastodon has turned down several European tours in recent years: “We were offered guarantees equivalent to the costs of each evening. In these conditions, we cannot afford to leave our comfortable home to work for free, especially in winter.”
He also highlights logistical problems exacerbated by Brexit, such as new taxes and restrictions for British truck drivers transporting their equipment to Europe. Add to this the exorbitant fuel costs and strict regulations on driving hours in Europe.
“European festivals are amazing, but the travel between dates is often insane. Going from a gig in London to another in Scandinavia the next day is almost impossible without two drivers.”
Gojira: an inspiring model but difficult to follow
Kelliher cites Gojira, a band he admires, as an example of astute management of show production despite similar income: “They put so much effort into their shows — with pyrotechnics and a whole bunch of effects. I don't know how they do financially. I respect them enormously for that.”
However, Mastodon refuses to reduce the quality of its shows in Europe to adapt to smaller venues: “European fans saw our shows [aux États-Unis] with lasers and video walls on YouTube. They would be disappointed if we came with just a banner.”
A changing industry
The guitarist concludes by pointing out that these challenges reflect broader issues in the post-pandemic music industry: “It’s not that we don’t like Europe. I love playing it. But costs and logistics make things very difficult. We hope the situation will improve.”
In the meantime, Mastodon continues to focus on touring the United States, where financial guarantees and infrastructure allow them to maintain the quality of their shows.
