Bill Murray Will Open for Big Head Todd and the Monsters at Red Rocks

When we saw that Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers were opening for Big Head Todd and the Monsters at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sunday, June 8, along with the Warren Haynes Band, we figured it might be just be another goofy band name...and not an act starring Billy Murray himself.

But then, the future movie star was a vocalist for a rock band in high school before he attended Regis University for a year. He also sang in some skits during his stint on Saturday Night Live (he joined in its second season). And anyone who's a fan of Murray knows that forming a band aligns with his idiosyncratic nature. I happened to live in Charleston, South Carolina, at the time Murray did; it was the period when he was known to crash parties, or greet people on the street before telling them, "No one will ever believe you" (that ended up being the subject of a 2015 documentary).

While I never met him, I had several friends who did, and had their own stories: playing pool with him at a local dive or spotting him at games of the Riverdogs, the minor-league baseball team of which he is co-owner. And all of them had the same impression: "He's the best."

But while Murray would set up impromptu concerts in New York City in 2022, it wasn't until 2024 that Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers came out of the woodwork...and it's actually pretty bad ass. The actor and comedian, who is known for his roles in Wes Anderson films as well as such comedies as Caddyshack, officially debuted the cover band at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas last September, and this year, the band's been on a tour that kicked off in January with sold-out shows at Thalia Hall in Chicago.
The group, which includes blues musicians Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia, will be hitting up cities throughout the country, wrapping up in Louisville, Kentucky, in October. So far, its setlists have included covers of Bob Dylan, the Kinks, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and more classic-rock bands. Murray puts his own vocal twist on the hits — he definitely has a flair to his voice — that shows a rapt passion for the music, sometimes taking on percussion as well while his bandmates go into blues-rock jams.

Now Big Head Todd fans will have a chance to see the star for themselves, in a passion project that came to full fruition. In a recent interview with the New York Times, the actor discussed his new films — but not the band — as well as the controversial incident that put an end to Being Mortal.

Murray told the outlet he's a different man now, and as we can see from his Blood Brothers clips, that new persona may include the label "rocker."

Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers will open for Big Head Todd and the Monsters, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 8, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison. Tickets are available via AXS.