Asking Alexandria guitarist Ben Bruce says he knew the band had made the right decision recruiting Denis Stoff just five minutes into their first gig together.
The vocalist was brought in last month following the departure of Danny Worsnop in January. And although Bruce says he was nervous ahead of their first show together in the Czech Republic, he quickly settled down when he saw how much fun Stoff was having onstage.
He tells BryanStars: “There were a million emotions running through my body. I didn’t know how people were going to react – I didn’t know if people were going to like us without Danny.
“That just kept running through my mind, ‘This could be the end of Asking Alexandria or it could be the start of a whole new life.’ As soon as I went on stage, within about five seconds I was like, ‘This is the start of something spectacular.’”
He continues: “Being on stage with Denis didn’t even feel weird – it felt completely natural. I was watching him and he just had the biggest fucking shit-eating grin on his face. That’s refreshing because Danny wasn’t having fun on stage with us so it was nice to see.”
The band are currently writing material for the follow-up to 2013’s From Death To Destiny – but Bruce reveals the sound is similar to their earlier albums.
He adds: “I think there are some huge arena-rock songs – so they’re not heavy, but they’re just great songs. The record’s actually a lot more similar to 2011’s Reckless & Relentless. We’ve brought a lot more of the electronic influence back.”
Asking Alexandria are currently on the North American leg of the Vans Warped Tour but return to Europe in October with Memphis May Fire, August Burns Red and In Hearts Wake. They’ll also co-headline the UK Vans Warped Tour show at London’s Alexandria Palace with Black Veil Brides.
ASKING ALEXANDRIA, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, AUGUST BURNS RED, IN HEARTS WAKE DATES
Oct 01: Antwerp, Belgium
Oct 02: Paris, France
Oct 03: Bordeaux, France
Oct 05: Madrid, Spain
Oct 06: Barcelona, Spain
Oct 08: Lucerne, Switzerland
Oct 09: Solothurn, Switzerland
Oct 10: Milan, Italy
Oct 11: Linz, Austria
Oct 12: Krakow, Poland
Oct 13: Warsaw, Poland
Oct 14: Berlin, Germany
Oct 16: Hamburg, Germany
Oct 17: Oberhausen, Germany
Oct 18: Vans Warped Tour UK, London, UK
Oct 20: Leicester O2 Academy
Oct 21: Newcastle O2 Academy
Oct 22: Lincoln Engine Shed
Oct 23: Glasgow O2 ABC
Oct 24: Dundee Fat Sam’s
Oct 25: Aberdeen Garage
Oct 27: Sheffield O2 Academy
Oct 28: Manchester Ritz
US VANS WARPED TOUR DATES
Jun 28: San Antonio AT&T Center, TX
Jul 01: Nashville Tennessee State Fairgrounds, TN
Jul 02: Atlanta Aaron’s Ampitheatre, GA
Jul 03: St Petersburg Vinoy Park, FL
Jul 05: Orlando Tinker Field, FL
Jul 06: Jacksonville Tailgaters Festival Grounds FL
Jul 07: Charlotte PNC Music Pavilon, NC
Jul 08: Virginia Beach Farm Bureau Live, VA
Jul 09: Burgettstown First Niagara Pavilion, PA
Jul 10: Camden Susquehanna Bank Center, NJ
Jul 11: Wantagh Jones Beach Ampitheatre, NY
Jul 12: Hartford Xfinity Theatre, CT
Jul 14: Mansfield Xfinity Center, MA
Jul 15: Darien Lake Darien Center, NY
Jul 16: Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center, OH
Jul 17: Toronto Molson Canadian Ampitheatre, ON
Jul 18: Columbia Merriweather Post Pavilion, MD
Jul 19: Holmdel PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
Jul 21: Scranton Pavilion, PA
Jul 23: Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center, OH
Jul 24: Auburn Hills Palace Parking Lots, MI
Jul 25: Chicago First Midwest Bank Ampitheater, IL
Jul 26: Shakopee Canterbury Park, MN
Jul 27: Maryland Heights Hollywood Casino Ampitheater, MO
Jul 28: Milwaukee Marcus Ampitheatre, WI
Jul 29: Noblesville Klipsch Music Center, IN
Jul 30: Bonner Springs Cricket Wireless Ampitheater, KS
Aug 01: Salt Lake City Utah State Fairpark, UT
Aug 02: Denver Pepsi Center Parking Lot, CO
Aug 05: San Diego Qualcomm Stadium Parking Lot, CA
Aug 07: Portland Expo Center, OR
Aug 08: Auburn White River Ampitheater, WA
VANS WARPED UK LINEUP
Asking Alexandria
Black Veil Brides
Reel Big Fish
Memphis May Fire
August Burns Red
Young Guns
Anti-Flag
Attila
The Rock Summer
Metro Station
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!
Ghost Town
The Word Alive
Rob Lynch
Fearless Vampire Killers
Blitz Kids
Forever Came Calling
Trophy Eyes
Roam
The One Hundred
In Hearts Wake
John Coffey
Creeper
Allusondrugs
Boy Jumps Ship
Twin Wild
Tigress
