CIRCLE JERKS Postpone Shows After Singer KEITH MORRIS Tests Positive For COVID-19

BLABBERMOUTH.NET

CIRCLE JERKS have been forced to postpone a few shows on their current 40th-anniversary tour with 7SECONDS and NEGATIVE APPROACH after singer Keith Morris tested positive for COVID-19. Affected dates include New York, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and New Orleans, with the band now scheduled to resume the trek on April 26 in Austin. CIRCLE JERKS said in a statement: "We had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but our fearless singer, our dude, Keith Morris, is headed home to rest for 10 days as he recovers from COVID-19. This will not stop Keith! "You have no idea how ecstatic we are to be on tour for the first time in 15 years and seeing your excitement every night has made it all worth it. Thank you! We plan to announce all rescheduled shows in the next week or two. And we will start the tour again on Tuesday, April 26th in Austin for two nights at the Mohawk. Get ready, Texas! "This postponement is the reality of touring in 2022, but it does not take away how financially crippling it is for everyone involved - especially our good friends and supporting bands, 7SECONDS & NEGATIVE APPROACH. "We are selling silk screened posters signed by Keith Morris, John Brannon & Kevin Seconds in our online shop. All profits from this and the North American Flyer T-Shirt will be split equally between the three bands. If you want to support this tour, this is the best way to do it. "We will continue to provide updates on Keith and all things CIRCLE JERKS on our socials. "We wish Keith a speedy recovery and cannot wait to see you all soon." CIRCLE JERKS' current live lineup is Morris, guitarist Greg Hetson (BAD RELIGION, REDD KROSS), bassist Zander Schloss (THE WEIRDOS, JOE STRUMMER) and drummer Joey Castillo (THE BRONX, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, DANZIG, BL'AST!, WASTED YOUTH). CIRCLE JERKS emerged from the punk underbelly of Los Angeles's South Bay in 1979. After serving as a co-founder and lead vocalist of BLACK FLAG during the recording of its essential "Nervous Breakdown" EP, Morris joined forces with Greg Hetson to form what would become CIRCLE JERKS, along with bassist Roger Rogerson and jazz drummer Lucky Lehrer. Unlike much of the unapologetic hardcore that seeped through the cracks of American suburbia, the music of the CIRCLE JERKS was thoughtfully steadfast, yet relentless and ferocious in nature. Bringing together a potent, articulate rhythm section with earnest yet oftentimes derisive lyrics and themes, the band was thereafter heralded as a leader of the pack — and a force to be reckoned with. Plowing forward with a relentless, tooth-cutting work ethic and a rousing stage presence, the band would soon find itself headlining shows at L.A.'s 5,000-capacity Olympic Auditorium and emblazoned in cult video classics like "The Decline Of Western Civilization", "Repo Man", "New Wave Theatre" and "The Slog Movie". Over the decades, CIRCLE JERKS would release six studio albums, including the aforementioned "Group Sex" (1980), "Wild In The Streets" (1982), "Golden Shower Of Hits" (1983), "Wonderful" (1985) and "IV" (1987), where they would become a major headliner during the alternative music explosion of the '80s and '90s. The long list of those influenced by the legacy of the CIRCLE JERKS ranges from BUTTHOLE SURFERS to RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS — with notable fans being Dogtown skateboarders, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Elton John, Johnny Depp, GUNS N' ROSES and Philip K. Dick. Decades later, their music continues to make an imprint on generations of diverse music fans and those who challenge the status quo.