Midnight Oil will bow out for the final time with the release of their 15th studio album, 'Resist', that will be followed by their last lap around the country visiting every state and territory.
While the Oils make it clear it'll be their final tour together – "Having always tackled every tour like it's the last – this time it actually will be," Peter Garrett says – this is not the end for one of Australia's most cherished groups.Each surviving member will embark on their own projects into the years ahead with the door not closed on potentially reconvening for another Midnight Oil recording session. The 2022 dates will, however, will be their last live sojourn together.
"We all know time refuses to stand still for anyone, but after many years together the band's spirit is deep, the music and words are strong, and our ideas and actions as bold as we can make them," Garrett says.
"We've reached people in ways we never could have imagined. Our desire to create and speak out is undimmed. We hope everyone who hears this album and gets to one of the shows will come away charged up about the planet's future, saying 'why stop now?'."
The 'Resist' album comes from the same sessions that birthed last year's 'The Makarrata Project' record, Midnight Oil's first studio album in 18 years that debuted at #1 the same weekend long-time bass player Bones Hillman died.
'Resist' features 12 new cuts from the Oils, all recorded with Bones. The lead single released last month is 'Rising Seas'.
"If I look back," begins Rob Hirst, "I see a blur of familiar names and faces: Jim, Pete, Martin, Bear and me, slamming loud prog-pop in a Chatswood garage; Giffo, magnificent, rocking back and forth at his first Royal Antler gig; Bonesy, headphones on, singing, lounging on the deck learning our catalogue.
"I see our managers in their offices: Gary, Zev and John; our tour managers in their cars and buses: Constance, Neil, and Willie Mac; our producers in their studios: Keith, Lez, Glyn, Nick and Warne; and our crew on countless stages: Michael, Oysters, Ozzy, Doc, Nick, Jock, Gerry – and so many more.
"I see our folks-in-the-engine-room that the outside world has never seen: Stephanie, Wayne, Diana, Arlene, Jonesy, Craig, Geoff H, Chris P, Peter T, and Mel C.
"I see our wives and trusted friends, and the tiny faces of the 'Baby Oils', watching us from side of stage, from Sydney to Sao Paulo to Saskatoon.
"But mostly, blinded by stage lights, I see the first two rows of a thousand gigs: Midnight Oil fans, pumping, jumping, singing louder than the band.
"But I don't look back."
This final tour by Midnight Oil will include four a day on the green concerts (in Orange, Geelong, Rutherglen and Swan Valley) as well as appearances in Newcastle, Wollongong, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney.
They also play four shows as part of 2022 MONA FOMA (two in Launceston, two in Hobart) as well as headlining the Friday edition of 2022 Bluesfest.
Tickets go on sale from 1 December at staggered times. More information. a day on the green tickets.
'Resist' will be available to pre-order from 30 November.
Midnight Oil 2022 Tour Dates
Wed 23 Feb - Newcastle Entertainment CentreSat 26 Feb - a day on the green @ Heifer Station (Orange)
Wed 2 Mar - WIN Entertainment Centre (Wollongong)
Sat 5 Mar - a day on the green @ Mt Duneed Estate (Geelong)
Wed 9 Mar - Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne)
Sat 12 Mar - a day on the green @ All Saints Estate (Rutherglen)
Sat 26 Mar - a day on the green @ Nikola Estate (Swan Valley)
Wed 30 Mar - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Sat 2 Apr - Darwin Amphitheatre
Wed 6 Apr - Convention Centre Arena (Cairns)
Sat 9 Apr - Sunshine Coast Stadium
Wed 13 Apr - The Riverstage (Brisbane)
Tue 19 Apr - Stage 88 (Canberra)
Thu 21 Apr - Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney)
Midnight Oil also play
Sun 23 Jan - MONA FOMA @ Royal Park (Launceston)
Tue 25 Jan - MONA FOMA @ Royal Park (Launceston)
Fri 28 Jan - MONA FOMA @ Mona Lawns (Hobart)
Mon 31 Jan - MONA FOMA @ Mona Lawns (Hobart)
Fri 15 Apr - Bluesfest (Byron Bay)
RESIST TRACKLISTING
1. Rising Seas2. The Barka-Darling River
3. Tarkine
4. At The Time Of Writing
5. Nobody's Child
6. To The Ends Of The Earth
7. Reef
8. We Resist
9. Lost At Sea
10. Undercover
11. We Art Not Afraid
12. Last Frontier
