- Veteran California rock band ADEMA, now a trio of Tim Fluckey, Mike Ransom, and Dave DeRoo, has signed with New York-based Worldwide Entertainment Group (WEG) for management.
- The band is set to release their long-awaited fifth album, Cruel Machine, on Cleopatra Records, mixed by platinum engineer David Gnozzi.
- ADEMA has a confirmed U.S. run supporting Powerman 5000 in May 2026, followed by a UK/Europe tour supporting Soil and Finger Eleven in October–November 2026.
- WEG co-founders Dave Lory and Sandy Rizzo will co-manage ADEMA, marking the firm's second high-profile rock signing after Seattle's Truly in late 2025.
Bakersfield, California rock band ADEMA has officially signed with Worldwide Entertainment Group (WEG) for management.
The current lineup: Tim Fluckey (lead vocals, guitar), Mike Ransom (lead guitar), and Dave DeRoo (bass), are best known for early 2000s nu-metal hits “Giving In” and “Immortal” off their gold-certified debut on Arista Records.
The band spent much of the last decade navigating lineup changes and label transitions, including stints on Earache Records and Immortal Records, before signing with Cleopatra Records in 2024.
Just as Roddy Ricch’s move to The Shalizi Group signaled a new management chapter for a major artist, ADEMA’s WEG deal marks a focused new direction for the veteran rock act.
Their fifth studio album, Cruel Machine, produced at 4th Street Recording and mixed by platinum-certified engineer David Gnozzi, is now slated for a 2026 release.
WEG, founded in 2024 by Joshua Simons, Dave Lory, and Dick Wingate, has been quietly building a rock-focused management roster. The firm previously signed Seattle rock act Truly in December 2025, with Lory and Sandy Rizzo co-managing.
Much like Colton Dawson’s recent deal with TKO Artist Management, ADEMA’s signing reflects a trend of established and emerging artists choosing specialized, full-service firms over traditional management structures.
Upcoming U.S. tour dates have ADEMA supporting Powerman 5000 across California in late May, followed by a full UK run in October–November 2026 alongside Soil and Finger Eleven, including stops at Electric Ballroom London and Rock City Nottingham.
Takeaways
This signing is about more than management paperwork, it’s a genuine second act. ADEMA hasn’t released a studio album since 2007’s Kill the Headlights, and the nu-metal revival wave currently gripping rock culture couldn’t be better timed for their comeback.
Pairing Cruel Machine with the full-service infrastructure of WEG, covering talent management, merchandise, live performance, and marketing, gives the band a far more organized launchpad than they’ve ever had before.
Sandy Rizzo’s existing 20-year relationship with the band removes a lot of the trust-building guesswork that normally slows new management deals down. And a transatlantic touring schedule alongside Powerman 5000, Soil, and Finger Eleven proves this is a full-throttle comeback, not just nostalgia bait.
Can Cruel Machine actually break through to new rock audiences in 2026, or will it primarily resonate with longtime ADEMA fans? With the nu-metal revival in full swing, is WEG strategically positioning itself as the go-to firm for legacy rock acts making comebacks?
