Classic Rock Legends 38 Special Extend US Tour Into October

Since 2024, 38 Special has been celebrating 50 years of rock since their start in 1974. On May 1, classic rock legends 38 Special embark on an extensive US tour. The tour kicks off in Las Vegas, NV at the International Theater. 38 Special teams up with fellow classic rock legends Kansas on seven of the tour dates. The first date with Kansas is on June 5 at the Verizon Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. On June 27, 38 Special will play the Rock, Ribs & Ridges festival in Augusta, New Jersey. Other acts performing at the festival includes blues guitarist Kingfish, Matt O’Ree Band, Gary Hoey, and Matt Coffy band.

On August 23, the band will perform at The Mountain Festival in Gatlinburg, TN. The Mountain Festival includes other classic rock greats, including Rick Springfield, Warrant, John Waite, Vixen, and Steelheart, along with Bad Marriage, and The Cruel Intentions.

38 Special will join Styx on their Rockin’ in Paradise event. It’s a three-day event that takes place at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida. It features 2 headlining sets from Styx along with a Q&A session. Other performers at the event include 38 Special, Tesla, Don Felder, The Marshall Tucker Band, Jefferson Starship, Yacht Rock Revue, The Outlaws, Edwin McCain, The Band Feel, and Jay Psaros. The event is hosted by rock personality Eddie Trunk. Additionally, 38 Special added two other dates in October. On Friday, October 9, the band will perform at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. On October 30, the band will join Foreigner for a concert at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California.

A Brief History of 38 Special

38 Special formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1974 by Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes. Donnie Van Zant, the younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant, who was best known as the singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ronnie lost his life when Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crashed in 1977. They got the band name 38 Special while rehearsing in a warehouse. Locals notified police of a noise complaint, and when the police arrived, the band was unable to come out of the warehouse due to a padlock on the door. Reportedly, a police officer stated, “That’s all right, we’ll let this .38 special do the talking” before shooting the lock.

The band’s first two albums didn’t sell well, and it was their third release that broke them into southern rock stardom. Rockin’ Into The Night was released in 1979 and contained the band’s breakout hit with the title track. “Rockin’ Into The Night” reached No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their fourth studio release in 1981, Wild-Eyed Southern Boys, contained the hit “Hold On Loosely.” The track peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Rock Tracks chart, and peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.

They followed up that success with 1982’s Special Forces. Their song “Caught Up In You” peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100, their first track to do so. It also hit No. 1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart. Special Forces reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200, which marked their highest charting album in the US.

The band saw continued success in the 1980’s with Tour De Force in 1983. The song “If I’d Been The One” hit No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, while “Back Where You Belong” peaked at No. 4 on the chart.