Punk rock legends Circle Jerks postpone Stone Pony show, three others, due to COVID
It's a punk rock pause.
Hardcore punk legend Circle Jerks have postponed their Friday, April 8, show at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park — as well as the group's Thursday, April 7, show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, and Saturday, April 9, show at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia — as lead singer Keith Morris has COVID.
The concert at the Higher Ground in Burlington, Vermont, on Tuesday, April 5, was postponed on the day of the show.
“It happened. Our singer and fearless road warrior Keith Morris has tested positive for COVID-19,” said the band on social media.
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The four shows will be rescheduled for July.
“The tour will resume on Monday, April 11, at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania,” the band said.
7 Seconds and Negative Attitude, two bands that also have a punk rock legacy dating back four decades, are the openers of the tour.
“This has caused a financial hit for our support bands (7 Seconds) and (Negative Attitude),” the Circle Jerks said. “If you would like to support them, we are splitting the profits evenly on the silkscreen poster (signed by Keith, Kevin Seconds, John Brannon) and the tour flyer shirt.”
The items are available via www.circlejerks.net.
Also, the Don Broco show Saturday, April 9, at the Pony has been postponed, as well as the band's show April 8 in Baltimore. No explanation has been given for the postponements.
There were 1,710 new confirmed cases of COVID in New Jersey, the Department of Health reported on Thursday, April 7. The numbers are growing as the rate of transmission was 1.13 on Thursday. A number over 1 means everyone who has COVID is spreading it to at least one other person, according to the state's health department.
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Health officials say the COVID BA.2 variant has become the dominant strain in New Jersey and New York, It's called the omicron “stealth” subvariant, and it appears to be more easily spread but does not cause more severe illness, officials say.
Tickets for Friday's show will be honored on the rescheduled date, the Pony announced.
Multiple concerts were postponed last summer due the delta variant, and in late winter due to omicron. The “stealth” subvariant has largely not affected the concert industry so far.
The Circle Jerks tour is a 40th anniversary celebration for the 1980 album “Group Sex.” The tour was postponed in 2020 due to the initial wave of COVID. The band, formed in 1979 by Morris and Greg Hetson, is considered one of the originators of hardcore punk rock.
The current tour is the Jerks first in 15 years.
“We wish Keith a smooth and speedy recovery and we can’t wait to see you all next week,” the band said.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: COVID causes Circle Jerks punk rock legends to postpone Stone Pony
