[cowboy71]

May as well get this party started again too

DEFINITELY RULED OUT
Any bands on in 2025
After Forever (Mark touring with Epica)
Amaranthe (Touring with Epica)
Beyond The Black (already have tour scheduled for 2026)
Burning Witches (Touring)
Charlotte Wessels (Touring with Epica and Amaranthe)
Dragonland (Olof touring with Amaranthe)
Epica (Touring with Amaranthe)
Eternal Tears of Sorrow - called it quits
Hammer King - touring with Burning Witches
Jinjer - on tour
Lord (Australia) - because reasons
Lord of the Lost - on tour
Mayan - No Epica, no Mayan
Michael Schenker - touring japan
Nanowar of Steel - on tour
New Horizon (Nils touring with Amaranthe)
Sarke - called it quits

MOST LIKELY RULED OUT
Any bands on MORC 2026
Harakiri For the Sky - Just dont wanna do it

[mooyagi]

Eternal Tears of Sorrow has formally called it quits.

[Sgt. B]

I'm assuming the bands on the Headbangers Boat 2025 that sails about 3 months earlier would also be ruled out.

[DrinkMoxie]

Eternal Tears of Sorrow has formally called it quits.

I didn't see this announcement

[bodomdragon]

Amaranthe and Epica will be touring Europe during the cruise.

[cowboy71]

Amaranthe and Epica will be touring Europe during the cruise.

Charlotte as well. Damn that decreases my likelihood of returning in 2026 dramatically

Obviously rules out all associated bands too - Dragonland, Dynazty, Mayan....

[Ishamael]

No Epica and no Amaranthe is an absolute disaster.

But also from this thread I learned that After Forever has reunited, this is exciting news!

[DeadPoet]

No Epica and no Amaranthe is an absolute disaster.

But also from this thread I learned that After Forever has reunited, this is exciting news!

Kinda reunited. Floor Jansen isn't part of said reunion unfortunately.

[cegr80]

Sarke has called it quits. Goddammit.

[Fatum11]

I just really excited and then really disappointed in the space of 10 seconds

[toby]

MOST LIKELY RULED OUT
Any bands on MORC 2026

Interesting little factoid. I just saw this since I follow Ace Van Johnson. If there's an exclusivity clause, it would be fully on 70K's part. Ace just posted that he's doing a guest gig with Faster Pussycat (he was with them for a while before becoming part of LA Guns) for back to back cruises in March. The 80s Cruise (that's a really eclectic lineup, but all stuff I would go see) and Monsters of Rock Cruise. As in 80s Cruise gets back on March 9 and MORC sails on March 10. And they are NOT both On The Blue charters (80S Cruise is apparently the same company that does the Star Trek one). So, I guess there's no telling what might be possible.

[MuzakMaker]

MOST LIKELY RULED OUT
Any bands on MORC 2026

Interesting little factoid. I just saw this since I follow Ace Van Johnson. If there's an exclusivity clause, it would be fully on 70K's part. Ace just posted that he's doing a guest gig with Faster Pussycat (he was with them for a while before becoming part of LA Guns) for back to back cruises in March. The 80s Cruise (that's a really eclectic lineup, but all stuff I would go see) and Monsters of Rock Cruise. As in 80s Cruise gets back on March 9 and MORC sails on March 10. And they are NOT both On The Blue charters (80S Cruise is apparently the same company that does the Star Trek one). So, I guess there's no telling what might be possible.

And also the fact that exclusivity clauses are always negotiable.
It just depends on

How much the fest wants the act
How much the act wants to play the fest
How much each party is willing to fight

And generally the fight isn't that big because exclusivity clauses help both the fest and the band. "Hey, we'll play but we want the radius dropped from X miles to Y miles and 4 months dropped to 3". (I've even seen a band localish to the area of a big fest redline the whole clause and still stay signed)

[DeadPoet]

At the Swallow the Sun/Harakiri for the Sky show last night, I spoke with the guitarist (and one of the masterminds) of Harakiri for the Sky. When I told them I would love to see them on the cruise, he said he doesn't want to do it. They were apparently offered twice in the past (including this past edition) and he rejected the offer. Not a monetary issue, they just don't want to do a cruise. So maybe they are out this year and future ones unless something changes.

[DSRyno]

At the Swallow the Sun/Harakiri for the Sky show last night, I spoke with the guitarist (and one of the masterminds) of Harakiri for the Sky. When I told them I would love to see them on the cruise, he said he doesn't want to do it. They were apparently offered twice in the past (including this past edition) and he rejected the offer. Not a monetary issue, they just don't want to do a cruise. So maybe they are out this year and future ones unless something changes.

Sadge

[Ethrivas]

Orange Goblin ceaces to exist as a band.

[caddee313]

Orange Goblin ceaces to exist as a band.

"Coup de grâce" was a banger back in the day.

[Metalhead_80s]

This hasn't been updated in a while...Michael Schenker ruled out due to being in Japan during 70K.

Kk's Priest removed from likely ruled out due to being dropped from MORC.

[amosfuegel]

Many big name bands didn't make it. I was especially looking forward to Eternal Tears of Sorrow but sadly they didn't make it.

[toby]

This hasn't been updated in a while...Michael Schenker ruled out due to being in Japan during 70K.

Kk's Priest removed from likely ruled out due to being dropped from MORC.

I didn't see a reason for it, but for MORC, it's rare to remove a band unless they wind up dropping for a tour that's a bigger opportunity (or a health/family issue for one of the members).

[MuzakMaker]

Lord of the Lost (with Birthday Massacre and Wednesday 13) will be touring North America during the boat.

[Metalhead_80s]

Jinjer just announced an EU tour during 70K.

[MuzakMaker]

Nanowar of Steel also announced a run during the boat, some other bands are attached for some of the dates, but none of them our vets and I don't think are even on Andy's radar, so I'll leave figuring out who is on what date to someone more invested than I am

[cowboy71]

Another guaranteed two-setter for me ruled out.

BURNING WITCHES have scheduled tourdates during boat.

[cowboy71]

HAMMERKING joining Burning Witches on tour, so that's ANOTHER band from my wishlist ruled out