Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields are bringing Dead Man’s Bones back, with new music announced for October 27, 17 years after their self-titled debut.
Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields are bringing Dead Man’s Bones back just before Halloween. As Exclaim reports, the duo announced new music for October 27 in a social-media teaser shared October 22, ending a 17-year gap since their self-titled debut. A short video titled “Hypnotism” introduces the return, reconnecting Gosling with a musical collaboration that began long before his performance of “I’m Just Ken” reached the pop charts.
The project grew out of a theatrical idea rather than a conventional plan to form a band. According to ANTI-’s original account, Gosling and Shields met in 2005 and bonded over ghosts, then began developing a supernatural love story for the stage. When that production became too expensive, they kept the songs and turned them into an album.
Released October 6, 2009, the 12-track debut includes “In the Room Where You Sleep,” “Pa Pa Power,” “My Body’s a Zombie for You” and “Lose Your Soul.” Those titles reflect a project whose interest in the macabre was built into the songwriting, not added later as a marketing theme. The October timing of the new announcement puts the duo back in the season most closely connected with its original aesthetic.
The recording process was deliberately hands-on. ANTI- says the pair played the instruments themselves, including ones they had not previously learned, and set limits intended to preserve imperfect performances. Tim Anderson produced the album, with the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir contributing a central part of its sound. The combination separated Dead Man’s Bones from a straightforward actor-fronted rock project.
Eva Mendes helped draw attention to the return by sharing the teaser and writing, “He came through on his promise to me.” Gosling had previously left the possibility open when asked about the band in 2023. This week’s announcement turns that long-running possibility into a dated release, though it does not yet specify whether October 27 brings a single or a larger project.
The band’s original live shows extended its unusual approach beyond the studio. ANTI-’s 2009 touring announcement described local choirs joining the performances and talent shows replacing conventional opening acts. That history gives returning listeners more to revisit than a famous actor’s early recording credit. The next chapter now has a date, arriving four days before Halloween.
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