Swedish metallers IN FLAMES have tapped UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS drummer Jon Rice for their spring/summer 2025 European tour. Rice has stepped in following the recent departure of IN FLAMES‘ drummer of the past seven years, Tanner Wayne.
Yesterday, IN FLAMES shared a photo of the rehearsal sessions with Rice, accompanied by a simple caption: ‘Rehearsals’.
Rice is expected to make his live debut with IN FLAMES at the first show of the band’s spring/summer 2025 European tour, which will kick off on June 2 in Tallinn, Estonia.
This is not the first high-profile touring gig for Jon. Rice subbed for longtime BEHEMOTH drummer Inferno (real name: Zbigniew Robert Promiński) during BEHEMOTH‘s 2017 North American tour with SLAYER, select 2019 headlining dates in Israel and Turkey and fall 2024 South American tour with ARCH ENEMY.
Rice joined UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS in 2017 and appeared on the band’s 2018 ‘Wasteland’ studio album. He has since performed in 2022 with the reactivated THE RED CHORD and Norwegian black metallers TJUSDER. Prior to that, Rice was a member of Arizona death metal merchants JOB FOR A COWBOY and Austin, Texas rockers SCORPION CHILD.
Wayne, who was previously best known for his work with UNDERMINDED, SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS and CHIODOS, joined IN FLAMES in time for the band’s summer 2018 tour.
Wayne stepped into IN FLAMES following the departure of Joe Rickard, who played on the band’s 2016 album ‘Battles’.
When IN FLAMES announced Wayne‘s departure on May 27, the band released the following statement via social media: “It is with profound gratitude and appreciation that we announce our creative decision to part ways with Tanner Wayne. His dedication and musicianship over the past several years has left, and will continue to leave, a lasting mark on this band. We wish him nothing but the best.
Tanner made his live debut with IN FLAMES on July 4, 2018 in Brno, Czech Republic.
IN FLAMES is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, ‘Foregone’, which was released in February 2023 via Nuclear Blast.