Legendary doom metal pioneers SLEEP have unveiled a new single, “Have Spacesuit Will Travel”, through Third Man Records, marking their first new music since 2018. Alongside the release, the band has announced a North American tour scheduled for summer and fall 2026 and launched the first issue of the SLEEP comic book, written by bassist and songwriter Al Cisneros.
“Have Spacesuit Will Travel” marks the beginning of SLEEP’s first chapter without guitarist Matt Pike. The music and creative vision remain very much alive, and after overcoming countless challenges throughout their career, the band is ready to move forward, writing and recording new songs and albums. Al extends his best wishes to Matt as he continues his own journey.
Alongside Cisneros, the current lineup of SLEEP includes Dale Crover on drums and Bubba Dupree on guitar. Crover’s pedigree speaks for itself, having played with influential acts such as the MELVINS and REDD KROSS. His involvement feels like a natural fit and a logical choice for a band like SLEEP. Dupree’s addition, however, is a far more unexpected development. Best known for his work with the highly revered hardcore pioneers VOID from Columbia, Maryland, his arrival is both surprising and fascinating. The idea of Dupree — whose guitar work helped define VOID from the band’s earliest days — stepping into SLEEP’s sonic universe is the kind of unexpected move few could have predicted, making this new chapter all the more intriguing.
Cisneros, Dupree and Crover as a trio looks really good on paper, but the only way to see if it worked was to get everyone in a room and play. Al says the answer made itself evident immediately: “The vibe of the first jam was obvious. It was blue sunglasses-era Iommi in the quality, and equally awesome is Bubba is also one of the coolest people I’ve been able to make music with.”
Illustrated by Dave Kloc and Arik Roper, the first issue of the SLEEP comic book launches the adventures of The Marijuanaut, taking readers to the riff-soaked world of Planet Iommia, where the protagonist crosses paths with The Weedian and other mysterious characters. The limited-edition package features the comic book, an autographed bookplate, and a flexidisc containing the band’s new single, “Have Spacesuit Will Travel”.
SLEEP will kick off its summer/fall 2026 tour on September 8 in San Diego, California. Artist presales will launch on June 23 at 10 a.m. local time, with the public on-sale starting on June 25 at 10 a.m. local time.
SLEEP 2026 tour dates:
Sep. 08 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory
Sep. 09 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
Sep. 10 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Revel Entertainment Center
Sep. 12 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
Sep. 13 – Austin, TX @ Levitation
Sep. 14 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre
Sep. 16 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
Sep. 17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Grand At The Complex
Sep. 18 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall
Sep. 20 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Sep. 21 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
Sep. 22 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
Sep. 23 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Sep. 25 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Sep. 26 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Sep. 27 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst
Sep. 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
Sep. 29 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
Nov. 04 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Nov. 05 – Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
Nov. 06. – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Nov. 07 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
Nov. 09 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Hall
Nov. 10 – Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
Nov. 11 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Ballroom
Nov. 12 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
Nov. 13 – Hudson, NY @ Basilica Hudson
Nov. 15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
Nov. 16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
Nov. 17 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
