AUTHORITY ZERO is handing “Apocalyptic Summer” over to the people.
The band has opened up the individual stems from its latest single, inviting musicians, producers, and artists to tear the track apart, rebuild it, and take it somewhere new through a community remix project at ApocalypticSummer.com.
The idea grew out of two official reinterpretations created by longtime friends of the band. TED BOWNE of PASSAFIRE and WAYNE LOTHIAN of THE ENGLISH BEAT each took the punk-rock original and pushed it into dub territory, approaching the same song from different angles.
“It was super fun reimagining this rocker of a tune in a dubby way. I can’t wait to hear what other people do with it!” Bowne says.
Lothian adds, “Working on the Authority Zero project was a great experience. There’s an honesty and energy in their music that’s been there from the beginning, and my goal was to respect that while bringing something fresh to the track. I’m really proud of how it came together and grateful to have been part of it.”
Now the band wants fans to do the same.
The project is open-ended, with no deadline, contest, judging, prize, winner, or ranking. Participants are asked to use their own ideas, performances, and conventional non-AI production tools. Finished remixes can be uploaded to SoundCloud and submitted through the project site, where AUTHORITY ZERO may periodically spotlight select tracks or add them to an official playlist.
“Apocalyptic Summer” itself leans into end-of-the-world absurdity, following an ordinary guy as political tension, riots, fire, and chaos close in around him while he tries to enjoy a day at the beach.
“‘Apocalyptic Summer’ takes place at the end of a long and crazy summer, in a satirical and fictional storyline with nonfictional, present-day political and societal elements woven within,” frontman Jason DeVore says. “It is a darkly surreal, rebellious look at a world teetering on the edge, set against the backdrop of rising political tension, riots, fire, chaos, and destruction of biblical proportions.”
AUTHORITY ZERO will take the song on the road this fall with the Apocalyptour 2026. COUNTERPUNCH joins the October dates, while THE RAGING NATHANS will appear on the November run.
AUTHORITY ZERO — Apocalyptour 2026
Oct. 21 — Albuquerque, N.M. — The Launchpad
Oct. 22 — Tulsa, Okla. — The Vanguard
Oct. 23 — St. Louis, Mo. — Golden Record
Oct. 24 — Chicago — Reggies
Oct. 25 — Hamtramck, Mich. — Small’s Bar
Oct. 26 — Rochester, N.Y. — Photo City Music Hall
Oct. 27 — Providence, R.I. — Alchemy
Oct. 28 — Westfield, Mass. — The Nook
Oct. 29 — Clifton, N.J. — Dingbatz
Oct. 30 — Brooklyn, N.Y. — Wood Shop
Nov. 1 — Newport, Ky. — The Southgate House Revival
Nov. 2 — Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Pyramid Scheme
Nov. 3 — Milwaukee — Cactus Club
Nov. 4 — Iowa City, Iowa — Gabe’s
Nov. 5 — Omaha, Neb. — The Waiting Room
Dec. 4 — Prescott, Ariz. — The Bird Cage
Dec. 5 — Tucson, Ariz. — 191 Toole
Dec. 11 — Fresno, Calif. — Strummers
Dec. 12 — Oakland, Calif. — Crybaby
Dec. 13 — Roseville, Calif. — Goldfield Trading Post
Dec. 18 — Palmdale, Calif. — Transplants
Dec. 19 — Pomona, Calif. — The Cathedral (Skanksmas)
Dec. 20 — San Diego — The Holding Co.
