A Perfect Circle are firing on all cylinders once more as they burst into action with new music in the pipeline. As they wrapped up their first UK and European tour in eight years, guitarist Billy Howerdel gave fans a tantalising glimpse of what's to come, hinting at fresh material after the surprise release of standalone single 'Starless' last month.
The electrifying track marked the band's first new music since 2024's 'Kindred', which featured alongside contributions from Primus and Puscifer. And for those who caught them live at London's O2 Academy Brixton, 'Starless' got its UK debut in scintillating style, getting the packed crowds on their feet.
Howerdel revealed to Minneapolis's 93Xradio that while there's "more music underway", nailing down a release date is proving tricky due to their touring schedule. "To get cracking on the new album," he explained, "I need a few more of these downtime days to line up over the next tour."
Formed in 1999 by Howerdel and frontman Maynard James Keenan, A Perfect Circle has boasted an impressive roster of collaborators from bands like Nine Inch Nails, Pixies, and The Smashing Pumpkins. Howerdel praised Keenan's "focus" and "great work ethic", not just within A Perfect Circle but across his other musical ventures – including Tool and Puscifer.
The band's last full-length album, 'Eat The Elephant', dropped in 2018, following classics like 'Mer De Noms' (2000), 'Thirteenth Step' (2003), and 'eMOTIVe' (2004). This summer, A Perfect Circle are set to bring their unique brand of alt-rock to festivals across Europe – including Rock Werchter and NOS Alive – before joining forces with Puscifer for a joint tour in South America, Australia, and Japan later this year. Keenan is also gearing up for a UK stint with Puscifer in November.
Keenan has previously spoken about juggling his demanding schedule across three bands, his Caduceus Cellars wine company, and life as a rock 'n' roll renaissance man. He knows when to seize creative inspiration – and when the energy's right, he acts fast, ensuring that innovative projects like A Perfect Circle's upcoming material get the green light.