Rocket roars back at Ink-N-Iron

And you thought Rocket from the Crypt ended abruptly the first time around...

Nearly eight years after prematurely bidding its career farewell, Rocket roared back to life as part of the 2013 Ink-N-Iron Festival on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Its first official U.S. concert since the band retired at a legendary Halloween 2005 gig in the Gaslamp, Rocket’s I-N-I appearance ended literally midsong, when the band ran over its allotted time and was instructed to stop playing in the midst of “Come See, Come Saw.”

Curiously, Rocket's set did not include “Tattoo,” the song the band once recorded in tribute to its inked fans. It did, however, perform material from most of its albums, concentrating heavily on its 1995 hit Scream, Dracula, Scream!

The group sounded as tight as ever, with frontman John “Speedo” Reis entertaining fans with his gravelly vocals, devastating guitar riffs, and between-songs banter that made Rocket arguably the most important band to ever come out of San Diego.

Rocket has hinted at a potential tour following its already-announced festival dates, so see them as quickly as you can, Because, if history is an indication, even “before it’s too late” might not be soon enough.

• Concert: Rocket from the Crypt
• Date: June 8
• Venue: Queen Mary, Long Beach
• Seats: pit