The alternative rock band Sugar has returned with 'House of Dead Memories,' their first new music together since the mid-1990s. Led by Bob Mould, the trio announced upcoming live shows in New York and London. The release coincides with a special collection celebrating their 1992 debut album.
Sugar, the influential alternative rock trio consisting of Bob Mould on guitar and vocals, David Barbe on bass, and Malcolm Travis on drums, has broken a long silence with the release of 'House of Dead Memories.' Recorded at Tiny Telephone in Oakland during June 2025, the track marks the band's first original material in more than 30 years and is distributed through Granary Music and BMG.
This comeback arrives as Sugar gears up for their first joint performances since January 1995. The shows are scheduled at Webster Hall in New York City on May 2 and 3, followed by dates at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on May 23 and 24. These events highlight a revival for the group, which Mould formed in late 1991 after his time with Hüsker Dü. Their live debut took place at Athens, Georgia's 40 Watt Club.
Sugar's 1992 debut 'Copper Blue' garnered widespread praise for tracks like 'A Good Idea,' 'Helpless,' and the radio hit 'If I Can't Change Your Mind.' The follow-up 'Beaster' in 1993 reached No. 3 on the UK's Official Albums Chart and No. 4 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, showcasing a darker intensity. Their 1994 album 'File Under: Easy Listening' entered the UK top 10 and climbed the Billboard 200 with songs such as 'Believe What You're Saying' and 'Gee Angel.' The band disbanded after a Japanese tour in early 1995.
Complementing the new single, a limited-edition four-LP box set titled 'Copper Blue – The Singles Collection' will launch on November 28 via BMG for Record Store Day Black Friday. It compiles UK 12-inch vinyl singles including 'Changes' and 'A Good Idea,' along with B-sides like 'Needle Hits E' and 'Clownmaster,' plus previously unreleased live recordings from their 1992 Cabaret Metro show in Chicago, featuring 'Helpless' on vinyl for the first time.