FLOTSAM AND JETSAM – I AM THE WEAPON SUMMER TOUR 2026

Flotsam and Jetsam is an American thrash metal band formed in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1981. They are famously known as the band where bassist Jason Newstedstarted before he left to join Metallica in 1986. Their 1986 debut, Doomsday for the Deceiver, is considered a masterpiece of the genre. Other notable albums include No Place for Disgrace (1988) and the recent I Am The Weapon (2024). A new studio album is currently in production and slated for a 2026 release. Flotsam and Jetsam is often cited as a staple of the “second wave” of thrash metal, known for technical proficiency and Eric A.K.’s high-pitched, melodic vocals.

• Latest Album: I Am The Weapon, released in autumn 2024.
• Active Lineup:
  • Eric “A.K.” Knutson: Vocals (the only nearly-constant member)
  • Michael Gilbert: Guitars
  • Steve Conley: Guitars
  • Bill Bodily: Bass
  • Ken Mary: Drums

Key Discography:

• Doomsday for the Deceiver (1986): Widely considered a thrash metal masterpiece; it was the first album to ever receive a 6K rating from Kerrang! Magazine.
• No Place for Disgrace (1988): Their major-label debut, featuring a popular cover of Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”.
• Cuatro (1992): Noted for a shift toward a more polished, groove-oriented sound.

On September 29, 2025, it was announced that Flotsam and Jetsam had signed to Napalm Records .