Phil Campbell’s Bastard Sons have announced a dozen European shows for summer 2026, including two dates supporting Judas Priest, as they prepare to honor the late Motörhead guitarist’s legacy on the road. The announcement came on April 30, 2026, following Phil Campbell’s passing in March 2026.
The band said the run is about more than just performing songs. In their statement, they described the tour as a mission “that goes beyond the music,” adding that the group is continuing “with an unwavering sense of strength, heart, and purpose” so the rock-and-roll spirit Campbell inspired keeps going. They also said fans can expect a show that is “loud, honest, and uncompromising rock ’n’ roll,” exactly the kind of performance their father would have wanted.
The summer schedule begins on July 23 in Dover, UK, then moves through Ittre, Mönchengladbach, Jena, Lodz, Warsaw, Lublin, Budapest, Ostrava, Budweis, Reichenbach an der Fils, and finishes with a final UK date at Chepstow Castle on August 22. The two Judas Priest support slots are set for July 28 in Warsaw and August 2 in Ostrava.
- July 23, 2026 – Dover, UK (Dover Summer Series)
- July 24, 2026 – Ittre, Belgium (Zik-Zak)
- July 25, 2026 – Mönchengladbach, Germany (BOBFest)
- July 26, 2026 – Jena, Germany (F-Haus)
- July 27, 2026 – Lodz, Poland (Scenografa)
- July 28, 2026 – Warsaw, Poland (COS Torwar) (with Judas Priest)
- July 30, 2026 – Lublin, Poland (Fabryka Kultury Zgrzyt)
- August 1, 2026 – Budapest, Hungary (Dürer Kert)
- August 2, 2026 – Ostrava, Czech Republic (Ostrava Arena) (with Judas Priest)
- August 3, 2026 – Budweis, Czech Republic (MC Fabrika)
- August 4, 2026 – Reichenbach an der Fils, Germany (Die Halle)
- August 22, 2026 – Chepstow, UK (Chepstow Castle)
Campbell’s connection to the material remains central to the tribute. He joined Motörhead in 1984 and remained with the band until 2015, serving as its sole guitarist for the last 20 years of the group’s existence. His work appeared on classic Motörhead albums such as Orgasmatron, 1916, and Bastards, before the band came to an end after Lemmy Kilmister’s death in 2015.
The article also notes that Phil’s musical life started early: he picked up guitar at age 10, was playing semi-professionally by 13, formed Persian Risk in 1979, and later auditioned for Motörhead after Brian Robertson’s departure in 1983.
The tribute arrives after a difficult period for the family band. They had originally been scheduled to tour earlier in 2026, but those plans changed after Phil Campbell’s death in March. Now his sons — alongside bandmates Dane, Todd, and Tyla — are carrying the name forward under Phil Campbell’s Bastard Sons, turning the tour into both a live celebration and a tribute.
This summer run is shaping up to be less about looking back and more about keeping a flame alive. For a band built around family, legacy, and Motörhead’s no-nonsense spirit, the 2026 European tour feels like a direct promise: Phil Campbell’s name is still going to ring out loud.
