Hole Reunion? Courtney Love & Melissa Auf der Maur Hint at Tour

Could a Hole reunion be on the horizon? Courtney Love sparked fervent speculation Tuesday with a cryptic Instagram post featuring former bassist Melissa Auf der Maur, hinting at a possible tour. The post, a slow-motion video of Auf der Maur set to Hole’s 1998 hit “Malibu,” included the caption “So do we tell the kids about the tour…?” prompting a flurry of excited responses from fans and a confirming reply from Auf der Maur herself: “It starts with eternal love…”

The potential for a Hole revival arrives at a particularly interesting moment for both musicians. Auf der Maur is preparing to release her memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A 90s Rock Memoir, on March 17th, offering a firsthand account of her time in the band and with Smashing Pumpkins. Meanwhile, Love is the subject of a new documentary, Antiheroine, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, though its completion is reportedly still in progress.

A Complicated History, A Tentative Future

For fans of the iconic ’90s grunge band, the possibility of a reunion is a long-awaited prospect. Hole disbanded in 2002, but has seen intermittent attempts at reformation. A lineup different from the classic iteration toured between 2009 and 2012. Love has repeatedly teased and then dismissed the idea of a full reunion in the years since, leading many to believe it would never happen. In 2021, she told Vogue a reunion was “just not gonna happen.”

Auf der Maur’s involvement is particularly significant. She joined Hole in 1994, following the tragic deaths of both Kurt Cobain and bassist Kristen Pfaff, and quickly became an integral part of the band’s sound. She played on the critically acclaimed 1998 album Celebrity Skin, contributing to some of Hole’s most enduring songs. She left the group in 1999 to join the Smashing Pumpkins, but has occasionally rejoined Hole for one-off performances, including a demonstrate in April 2012.

The timing of this potential reunion also coincides with a period of creative collaboration between Love and Auf der Maur. They reunited in the studio in 2024 for the first time in over two decades, and later appeared together on 070 Shake’s cover of Tim Buckley’s “Song to the Siren.” Love also reportedly enlisted Auf der Maur to contribute vocals to her long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s America’s Sweetheart, according to a recent profile in The New York Times.

Beyond the Music: Context and Creative Momentum

The documentary Antiheroine, which premiered at Sundance in January, offers a deeper look into Love’s life and career. While an early cut of the film reportedly left Love dissatisfied, she remains committed to completing and releasing it. The film features interviews with Auf der Maur, Hole drummer Patty Schemel, and fellow musicians Michael Stipe of R.E.M. And Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, suggesting a broader exploration of Love’s musical legacy and the dynamics within Hole. The Hollywood Reporter detailed the issues surrounding the Sundance premiere and Love’s dedication to finishing the project.

Auf der Maur’s upcoming memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry, promises to provide a candid and personal account of her experiences navigating the rock scene of the 1990s. The book is expected to delve into her time with both Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, offering insights into the creative and personal challenges she faced. You can pre-order the book here.

What’s Next for Hole?

While Love’s Instagram post has ignited excitement among fans, it’s important to note that a full-fledged reunion is not yet confirmed. The post could be interpreted as a playful tease, a promotion for Auf der Maur’s book, or a genuine indication of plans for a tour. Yet, the enthusiastic response from Auf der Maur suggests that there is a real possibility of the band reforming, at least for a limited run of shows.

Beyond the potential tour, Auf der Maur has a confirmed performance on the calendar: she will be joining Aaron Dessner of The National and HAERTS at a benefit concert for Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in upstate New York on May 30th. The event, hosted by The White Lotus star Walton Goggins, will be held at Basilica Hudson, a venue co-owned by Auf der Maur and her husband, filmmaker Tony Stone. More details about the benefit can be found on the Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School website.

For now, fans will be watching closely for further updates from Love and Auf der Maur. The coming weeks and months will likely reveal whether this Instagram post is a prelude to a full-scale Hole reunion, or simply a moment of nostalgia and creative collaboration between two influential musicians.