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Legendary USA southern rock ‘n’ rollers Preacher Stone drop their new album ‘By The Horns’ on October 17th, with UK live dates to follow in early 2026. Catch up with the band, below:
The new album ‘By The Horns’ lands on October 17th, and judging by the instant, explosive way that the title track opens the album, it’s quite a literal title. Was it always going to be called this?
It’s our approach to the recording process and life in general. We had the music recorded for the song, and when we agreed on the album title, the lyrics for the song ‘By the Horns’ came up; strangely, it was the last song that we recorded for the album.
What was the gestation period of the album like? How quickly did it come together?
After our tour of the UK in 2024, we started putting together ideas for new songs, and we finished recording in August of 2025. We wanted to release a new album in a timely manner, we don’t want people waiting and wondering.
The album has an old-school, raw feeling about it, as if it were recorded right there and then, with the first take being the one used. Was this the case?
Yes, 100%! We wanted a vintage feel with big guitars, drums, and real raw vocals. The tracks were cut live with little overdubs for solos and vocals to capture the energy and the attitude that we have live. Our producer, Glenn Tabor, pushed us hard to get our best performances while making it feel natural and real.
Which of the new songs gave you the biggest goosebumps once you heard the album back for the first time? (The title-track and ‘Think By Now’ are our particular favourites at the moment)
‘Think By Know’ and ‘Writing On The Wall’ were the start of that. Coming up before the album release is ‘The Devil You Know’ – the leader in the goosebumps category. The darkness of the music and the power of the band combined with the subject matter hit home.
One of the trademarks of Preacher Stone has always been the twin-guitar sound; Darrell Whitt recently joined the band to partner with Ben Robinson. Where do you know Darrell from, and how quickly did he settle into the Preacher Stone groove?
We’ve all known Darrell for years through playing festivals and shows with his band Whiskey Stills and Mash; he’s been a friend of ours for a while. We weren’t looking for a guitar player, we were looking for THE guitar player who was one of us…Darrell is exactly that! The chemistry between Ben and Darrell was immediate; both are great players who are unselfish and play for the song. Darrell embodies everything that Preacher Stone is; we’re thrilled to have him!
What have you warned Darrell about the most concerning the UK tour in early 2026: the accents, the weather…or the food?
The accents, the weather, didn’t focus on the food! We all eat like goats, so the food was not a consideration…in fact, we found the food to be good! Fish and chips! The main thing for us was the traffic…when you’re used to driving on the right, and you’re riding in a van that’s driving on the left, roundabouts can be terrifying. The first time we were in the UK, some of us screamed a few times! We also told him how receptive and polite everyone is in the UK, so he’s looking forward to a warm welcome!
What memories do you have of the first Preacher Stone UK tour, back in 2023?
Being terrified at the occasional roundabout, eating haggis, playing Bannermans in Edinburgh, where Thin Lizzy had played. The audiences that were so kind and receptive, and the friends we made throughout the tour. It was a wonderful experience, and can’t wait to do it all again and more with our first UK headline tour!
It’s quite a tough slog on the tour; is it 11 shows in 12 days? How do you prepare for a run like this? Or does it come easily?
It’s not for the faint of heart! Some of us walk or exercise daily, and a tour this demanding, we must sleep and hydrate. The important thing is to remember to enjoy the process and not stress over things, as nothing goes as planned sometimes! You have to pack your sense of humor! It goes by fast, and we love it!
What can people coming along to one of the shows expect?
Loud, groove-driven, guitar-slinging, honest rock and roll served with a heap of swagger and southern USA authenticity. We’ll play like our lives depend on it every night, our new UK special guests, brothers Revenant, will bring it on all tour, and for Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Newcastle shows, Silent Thieves too! We’re also playing an album release show at Madlife Stage and Studio in Woodstock, Georgia, on Sunday, October 19, where we’ll be filming a new video – a great chance for our fans and friends to be immortalised in it!
Does the rise of AI in music concern you?
AI is a seemingly unstoppable force to make us all dumber and less talented. AI in music is like the camera phone. The camera phone made everyone a photographer. AI can make everyone an artist, but not a true artist. AI searches the internet and gleans from other people’s creations and synthesizes them into something “new.” No emotion, no feeling, no originality, just content. Real art comes from the lives of real people. No machine will replace the soul of a real musician or artist. The most frustrating thing is when people can’t see the difference.
How is 2026 shaping up for Preacher Stone?
2026 will be a year supporting ‘By The Horns’! Starting in the UK on tour, including Planet Rock Winter’s End festival, then more shows here in the US, there’s a bunch of things happening…
PREACHER STONE & SPECIAL GUESTS REVENANT
BY THE HORNS UK TOUR 2026
January 28 – Faversham – The Old Brewery Store
January 29 – London – Cart and Horses
January 30 – Winchester – Railway Inn
January 31 – St Austell – St Austell Band Club
February 1 – Trecco Bay – Planet Rock Winter’s End*
February 3 – Edinburgh – Bannermans
February 4 – Glasgow – Ivory Blacks
February 5 – Newcastle – Trillians
February 6 – Nottingham – The Old Cold Store
February 7 – Birmingham – Asylum 2
February 8 – Bristol – The Louisiana
*Preacher Stone only
PREACHER STONE ONLINE
Official Website – Facebook – Spotify – Instagram – YouTube
Portrait image – Bobby Carter Blink On Two Photography
