Rush, Triumph, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister. These rocking bands are celebrating their 50th anniversaries with tours and tunes. WOWZA!
They are some of the most in-demand concert tickets in the “QUEUE” (which I have been in) that you will find—or NOT find! Fans are hungry, excited, and ready.
I’m not ashamed to say that I plan on seeing the aforementioned bands this year. Big tours with even bigger catalogs. Songs drive the tour bus. Your catalog sustains you, even with a member change here or there. Fifty years as a band? That’s a celebration in itself.
Rush is one of my favorite bands of all time—yes, there are “Girls For Geddy.” They shocked fans in the announcement of their 50 Something Tour in early October 2025. What started as a handful of dates has grown to an expansive 58-date tour extravaganza across North America.
It marks their first since R40—10 years ago—and the first since the death of their drummer Neil Peart in 2020. There is not a ticket to be found. Trust me, I know.
Triumph soon followed announcing their 50th Anniversary Tour in December with much fan excitement. A return to the road for the first time in 30 years. All three original members—Rik Emmet, Gil Moore, and Mike Levine—in attendance, stating on social media—“Our fans have always been the heart of Triumph. Their energy, their belief, and the way they embraced the positivity in our music have carried us for fifty years,” the group said. “We’ve always said these songs were meant to bring people together – and that’s exactly why we’re coming back now. We knew there was still a chapter left to write.”
They are also bringing out guitarist Phil X (Bon Jovi) and Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz from Slash’s band The Conspirators. Does anyone seem to care that this legendary power trio is bringing out some “extra” helping hands?
Not in the least—let the games begin! Triumph tickets? Another tough get.
Bottom line: bands want to play their songs. Fans want to hear them. The constant stress of everyday life calls for more concerts, more “LOUDINGS” (that’s an outing, only LOUD). More music community, and time travel.
Experiencing your favorite band brings you back to a simpler time. Playing those songs again? Well, it just doesn’t get much better than that. 50 years is a long time. If not now—never.
One of my favorite hit-making rock machines that is also celebrating their 50th with a tour and new music is 38 Special.
The band is back with a new album—“Milestone”—released in 2025, their first in over 20 years. I recently caught up with the band’s leader and founding member Don Barnes, who talked about their 50-year legacy and the “Muscle and Melody” that sustained them. Which solidified their place in the great touring band column, and has taken them beyond the “Wild Eyed Southern Boys” we first saw on MTV.
Don discusses the band’s 50-year legacy with me, including why it’s so important to sing the songs that mean so much to the fans. He also covers how they choose a setlist, their massive MTV success, and the new release. Here’s a taste…..
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
Terrie Carr – In the video for your new tune All I Haven’t Said, you guys look like you all still really like each other!
Don Barnes – Oh we do! We roll on down the road together and all still like each other, even the crew. We are one family. I’ll go backstage and I love to hear the guys—they are all cracking up and laughing. It’s still a good place to be. Nobody is envious of the other person. We are all one unit—one team—still a family. A career is hard to sustain that long. You have to keep your standards high, be brutally honest with each other—it’s not easy to do.
TC – All I Haven’t Said is your first single from Milestone, your first new record in 20 years. Is it still important to put out new music? Is the sequencing (of a record) still important to you? A top-to-bottom endeavor that tells a story?
DB – Yes, all of that. Jim Peterik (Founder of the band Survivor and 38 Special co-writer who wrote some of the band’s biggest hits like Caught Up In You, Hold On Loosely, Rockin’ Into the Night and Fantasy Girl) said, a great project doesn’t start with song ideas, it starts with a phone call. A reason, a purpose to do a song.
We have this 50th anniversary coming up and my agent asked, “what do you plan on doing?” I told him we can get a brand new set to which he replied, “are you thinking about a new album?” I thought that’s a daunting task because you are putting in a lot of songwriting time.
We did it in phases. I used to do it in the studio at the hotel around the corner and punch the clock. Work 8–10 hours, play some ping pong, and it would be done. This one was done touring 100 cities a year and carving out some time to do some tracks. We went to Will Turpin’s (Collective Soul) studio, did some songs, some shows. Then we came back and did some more.
TC – That keeps you fresh though, right? Recording your experiences that may not have happened? Better this way than all at once.
DB – You’re right. When we went in this time and the mics were set up, it made for a real organic feel. There’s a realness to the songs and a groove. Our 50th anniversary is a milestone, so I couldn’t think of a better thing to call it than—38 SPECIAL—MILESTONE. We’ve had so much success with our sound, there’s no reason we can’t update that sound to a 2026 version that can’t be successful for us again.
TC – I’ve heard you describe the band as “Melody and Muscle.” Explain?
DB – Muscle and Melody. You’ve got that strong guitar in your face attitude and a good story over the top. We felt it was a simple formula, and if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Now we are trying to take that into the future.
38 Special heads out on their “50 YEAR LEGACY TOUR” in February, and I’m excited when they hit my NJ market in June for the “Rock, Ribs and Ridges” festival in Vernon, NJ. Come on—38 Special tunes and BBQ? Count me in!
Check out my full interview with Don Barnes on my Carr Stereo YouTube Channel and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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