01What happened
The story, straight
Sleep, the legendary stoner-metal band, have released their first new music in eight years: 'Have Spacesuit Will Travel,' out now via Third Man Records. The song will also come as a flexi disc bundled with Sleep Comic Book, a new comic written by frontman Al Cisneros and illustrated by Dave Kloc and Arik Roper. The band has also announced a North American tour for fall 2026. Notably, co-founder and guitarist Matt Pike is no longer in the group — his last studio work was 2018's The Sciences. Replacing him is Bubba Dupree, best known as the guitarist for Maryland hardcore punk band Void, while Melvins drummer Dale Crover steps in for Jason Roeder.
sleep dropped their first new song in eight years — 'Have Spacesuit Will Travel' on Third Man — and they're doing a comic book and a fall north american tour. the bigger story is the lineup: matt pike, the wild shirtless co-founder guitarist, is out. his last studio work was 2018's the sciences. bubba dupree from void is replacing him on guitar, and melvins drummer dale crover is taking over drums from jason roeder.
02Spread timeline
Where it actually started
03Source receipts
Every claim, linked
04What's solid, what isn't
What's solid and what isn't
- Sleep released 'Have Spacesuit Will Travel' via Third Man Records — their first new music since 2018.
- Matt Pike is no longer in Sleep; his final studio contribution was 2018's The Sciences.
- Bubba Dupree (Void) is replacing Pike on guitar.
- Dale Crover (Melvins) is replacing Jason Roeder on drums.
- Sleep Comic Book, issue one, is written by Al Cisneros and illustrated by Dave Kloc and Arik Roper.
- A North American tour is planned for fall 2026.
- Specific fall tour dates and venues.
05Why it matters
The editorial take
Sleep are one of doom metal's foundational bands — their 2018 comeback album The Sciences was a cultural event. Losing Matt Pike, who also fronts High on Fire, is a seismic lineup shift. The comic book and flexi disc bundle signals a deliberate multimedia rollout strategy that's increasingly common for legacy acts trying to cut through streaming noise.
pike leaving sleep is a huge deal — he's half the band's identity, shirtless shredding and all. the comic book bundle is a smart play for a band whose fanbase will absolutely buy physical merch. eight years between releases and they come back with a full multimedia package.