Edited by JOHN DALY
MESA, Ariz. – Authority Zero wants to keep it real.
The band has dropped a new single “Apocalyptic Summer,” and is letting its listening audience remix the track via Soundcloud in an effort to retain human authority in song creation.
“Apocalyptic Summer” is out and Authority Zero is opening the song up for others to pull apart, rebuild and take somewhere entirely new. The band handed the track to longtime friends, Ted Bowne of Passafire and Wayne Lothian of The English Beat, and asked each of them to reinterpret it. Both artists transformed the punk rock original into distinctive dub remixes, offering different perspectives on the same recording.
Listen to Ted Browne and Wayne Lothian versions on the playlist here:
Now Authority Zero is handing those same creative tools over to its community.
Through ApocalypticSummer.com, musicians, producers and artists can download the song’s individual stems and create their own versions of “Apocalyptic Summer.” The always-open initiative is a just-for-fun, human-made community project built around independent creativity and collaboration.
The band says this is not a contest. There is no deadline, judging, prize, winner or ranking and they’re asking people to download the stems, reimagine the song and above all: keep it human.
“‘Apocalyptic Summer’ takes place at the end of a long and crazy summer in a satirical and fictional storyline with nonfictional, present-day political and societal elements woven within,” said frontman Jason DeVore. “It is a darkly surreal, rebellious look at a world teetering on the edge, set against the backdrop of rising political tension, riots, fire, chaos and destruction of biblical proportions.
“We follow an ordinary man who sets out to enjoy another day at the beach when there’s an ominous knock at the door,” he said. “From there, we begin to watch the world unravel around him, and his eyes open to the shocking reality of the world he lives in. He refuses to surrender to fear or let anyone steal what makes life worth living. He turns to the extremes of living it up with whatever time may be left. If the world is ending, he’s going out fighting—drink in hand and riding out the apocalyptic surf, determined to enjoy every last second.”
Authority Zero will bring “Apocalyptic Summer” on the road this fall during the “Apocalyptour 2026.” The October dates will feature Counterpunch, with The Raging Nathans joining the November run.
AUTHORITY ZERO — “APOCALYPTOUR 2026”
OCT 21 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Launchpad
OCT 22 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
OCT 23 – St. Louis, MO @ Golden Record
OCT 24 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
OCT 25 – Hamtramck, MI @ Small’s Bar
OCT 26 – Rochester, NY @ Photo City Music Hall
OCT 27 – Providence, RI @ Alchemy
OCT 28 – Westfield, MA @ The Nook
OCT 29 – Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz
OCT 30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Wood Shop
NOV 1 – Newport, KY @ The Southgate House Revival
NOV 2 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme
NOV 3 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
NOV 4 – Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s
NOV 5 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
DEC 4 – Prescott, AZ @ The Bird Cage
DEC 5 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
DEC 11 – Fresno, CA @ Strummers
DEC 12 – Oakland, CA @ Crybaby
DEC 13 – Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
DEC 18 – Palmdale, CA @ Transplants
DEC 19 – Pomona, CA @ The Cathedral (Skanksmas)
DEC 20 – San Diego, CA @ The Holding Co
Check out Apocalyptic Summer here: