Randy Blythe’s Book Tour Is Powerful – Why You Should Go, Too

In an intimate book store setting, far from the raucous energy of a Lamb of God show, Randy Blythe kicked off his book tour, engaging in a powerful, resonant conversation with moderator Alex Skolnick of Testament. And here’s why you should go too if the vocalist and author is come to a nearby city this winter.The night, while largely focused on some of the most concerning issues we as individuals and as a society are facing today, felt cathartic and cleansing. It felt like Blythe’s mission had been accomplished, taking the innermost thoughts from Just Beyond the Light: Making Peace With the Wars Inside Our Head, but rather than just sharing them with the small, attentive crowd, it felt like he was holding up a mirror, reflecting the pain and torment we all endure.Getting to the Book StoreI drove to a good friend’s house in New York and, together, we made the ride down to The Powerhouse Arena book store. Aware of the conversational matter at hand for the evening, we ran through many of what wound up being Blythe’s talking points in the new book, which is organized by chapters, each named after a song that’s dear to him.Even before stepping foot into the split-level book store, which was outfitted with a coffee bar and couches up a small handful of stairs, Blythe’s endgame was already in play — human connection and conversation in the physical world.Get Ready to Get DeepWhile the fans that gathered at the store looked like your standard metal concert crowd, we certainly looked a bit out of place in this cozier, traditional setting. And not fitting in was the introductory theme of the night as Blythe and Skolnick recollected connecting with one another at a skyscraping hotel in the Philippines. Bonding over their mutual love of reading and “sensitive movies,” the pair acknowledged that in the backstage/offstage world of heavy metal, they’re the ones who don’t fit it with a lot of other musicians and their other interests outside of music.Just Beyond the Light, as Blythe confessed, is him as a man in his mid-50s coming to terms with the fact that the world will always be a cold, fucked up place riddled with indescribable evil and inequality. And while we’re bombarded with this negative reality on a constant basis, there has to be a way to live life with a more positive balance, which comes down to affecting change and demonstrating goodwill on a smaller scale than overhauling cruel, systemic and institutional problems as the frontman in Lamb of God.READ MORE: Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe Issues Warning Ahead of Upcoming Book TourEven with a platform greater than most, Blythe’s focus is on the change he can inspire on an individual level.As a moderator, Skolnick dutifully steered the conversation toward Blythe trying to do good and make the world a better place. One instance highlighted Blythe writing the Lamb of God song “The Duke” in honor of a fan who passed away from leukemia, leading to another fan to sign up on a bone marrow registry, eventually matching with a 70-year-old man and saving his life.Blythe still seems beyond touched that his efforts are ultimately the reason this man is still spending more time with his loved ones.Dealing With TragedyElsewhere, Blythe acknowledged the revolving door tragedies of school shootings in the United States, a problem the country uniquely struggles with and has wholly failed to remedy. The vocalist even realized that, as an angry teenager, he checked a lot of the boxes that fit the numerous traits of these shooters, of which there is not one distinct, uniform profile.Obviously, this is a path he never pursued as an outlet for his rage and emotions. And the message he hopes to convey for those who feel this is their necessary outlet is that, having been that enraged teen himself, he has seen how much better life can get if you stick it out through the bad and dark parts. “Just hang in there, buddy,” Blythe encourages.Questions From FansAside from some Lamb of God related questions, some in attendance used this opportunity to delve further into the minds of Blythe and Skolnick.A teacher lamented the need for code red active shooter drills, I.C.E. drills and other precautions to safeguard the lives of children in schools. Striving for education in a setting that has become stressful and traumatic for students weighed heavily on the teacher’s mind as he simply asked Blythe for advice.Another fan in their early 20s wondered aloud what one can do about all the pain and despair they feel at the world around them.What became clear is that the issues Blythe attempts to reconcile in Just Beyond the Light are ones that are on all of our minds. While the answers remain elusive, processing these events and problems and talking through them in the physical world — together, at a bookstore for this evening — is helpful.One chapter in the book, named after a Hatebreed song, is “You’re Never Alone.” While we see this message everywhere as we doom-scroll our social media feeds, it doesn’t resonate as deeply as it does when we’re together in person.People are lost and looking for guidance, not finding it in the powers that be or the existing systems in place. Blythe, like any other musician and role model, should not be deified, but Just Beyond the Light can absolutely serve as a guiding light, equipping readers with new tools to navigate the darkness as we grapple with the inexhaustible pain of being human.Mission AccomplishedOn the ride home, my friend and I continued many of the conversational points Blythe and Skolnick so graciously shared with this small book store crowd.We’re not any closer to having our answers, but it felt good to detach from the usual platform these issues are discussed through (social media) and share ideas without the feeding frenzy of a comments section.And that’s why you should go, hopefully with someone else close to you, and feed off a different kind of energy you get when headbangers gather in one place.What else are you going to do? Scroll your phone like you did last night and like you will again tomorrow night? You’ won’t miss anything in your feeds, but you might miss out on a night that could make a genuinely positive impact in your life.And that’s your motherfuckin’ invitation — the only one you could ever need!Randy Blythe 2025 North American Book Tour DatesJust Beyond the Light: Making Peace With the Wars Inside Our Head is out now through Hackette Books and can be purchased here.View all of Randy Blythe’s book tour dates below and head to his website to get tickets.Feb. 19 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Underground ArtsFeb. 21 – Harrisonburg, Va. @ The Golden PonyFeb. 23 – Somerville, Mass. @ Arts at the ArmoryFeb. 25 – Montreal, Quebec @ Théâtre FairmountFeb. 26 – Toronto, Ontario @ Red Room at The Concert HallFeb. 28 – Lansing, Mich. @ Grewal Hall at 224March 01 – Joliet, Ill. @ The ForgeMarch 03 – Nashville, Tenn. @ The Basement EastMarch 04 – Dallas, Texas @ Granada TheaterMarch 05 – Austin, Texas @ ParishMarch 07 – Denver, Colo. @ Meow WolfMarch 09 – Seattle, Wash. @ El CorazonMarch 12 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The IndependentMarch 13 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ El Rey TheatreMarch 14 – San Diego, Calif. @ House of BluesRock + Metal Songs With Social MessagesMusic has the power to move people. It also has the power to move them to action.Gallery Credit: Taylor Markarian