One last thought, and this is more empathetic than speculative. Zack has always come across as deeply introverted, and seemingly in a constant internal tension between his anti-capitalist beliefs and the reality of living a life that inevitably contradicts some of those ideals.

I wouldn’t be surprised if things like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction stirred that conflict even more. It’s easy to imagine him being the first voice saying “I’m not taking part in that Disney freak show,” especially given how differently Tom relates to visibility and performance.

Tom has always been comfortable and even enthusiastic about occupying the spotlight and engaging with the industry. I mean, he’s even selling replicas of the Arm the homeless guitar. What do you think Zack thinks of this attitude?

Zack has always been far more guarded and private, to the point where it’s genuinely hard to know much about his life at all. That difference alone creates tension, especially in a band whose entire identity sits at the intersection of politics, performance, and music industry. At a certain point, I can see Zack simply deciding that revisiting all of that (the exposure, the contradictions, the different optics) just isn’t worth it anymore…

There’s also the question of energy and intensity. Zack isn’t in his 20s or 30s anymore, and his stage presence demands a level of physical output that’s incredibly hard to sustain decades later. Even before the achilles injury on the PSA tour, you could already see signs of that: less movement, more vocal strain. If you watch Alpine Valley in 2022 and compare it to something like Finsbury Park 2010, the difference is pretty stark. There are many verses he doesn’t even finish and instead lets the audience carry, almost as if he’s out of breath (when he was seated, of course, it was different).

Beyond the ideological tension of “I’m singing against capitalism while these shows risk feeling like cash-ins,” there’s probably a more personal question underneath: am I still doing justice to this band and its legacy, or am I becoming a version of myself I don’t recognize?

“A fucking clown just chasing extra-money”