After reconvening last winter in Melbourne and Sydney to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary, The Beasts aka The Beasts of Bourbon have stepped it up a notch or three in 2024 with a full-fledged national tour scheduled.
The news arrives with the blessing of original drummer James Baker's doctor, who proclaims: "Play more! It's good for you!" Baker is currently battling cancer, but as frontman Tex Perkins attests, the Beasts' skin-whacker "f...ing nailed" their two gigs last year.With the doctor's tick of approval, The Beasts will now indulge in another live music adventure, with gigs planned in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle and Melbourne (two shows) in April.
Sans the legend Spencer P. Jones, who passed on to the next dimension in 2018, Perkins and Baker will again be joined by Kim Salmon (guitar), Boris Sujdovic (bass) and Charlie Owen (guitar).
"Last year The Beasts performed two sold-out shows celebrating the 40th anniversary of the reformation of The Beasts of Bourbon," Tex says.
"We approached these shows cautiously, as our beloved original drummer, the legend James Baker, was diagnosed with, and had been receiving treatment, for cancer.
"We had no idea how he would handle the work required to play these gigs. Well, he not only got through the gigs, but he f...ing nailed them! Like a sledgehammer nails a thumbtack.
"It was a glorious triumph, and the gigs were full of ferocious fun with a hell of a lot of love in the room!
"His doctors even said 'play more! It's good for you.' Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, rock & roll is good for you.
"So, following doctor's orders, we are going at it again! I asked James and his wife Cath for a few words. . . and they sent us a poem."
We knocked 'em dead in Sydney
We knocked 'em dead in Melbourne
And we're back to do it again
Across this whole wide land
We're all dressed up and ready to go
So don't you dare miss this show
It's not called Alive for nothing James' medical team has spoken – it's Terminal his cancer thing
They also say it's really good for him this RnR thing
It's really f...ing good for him
So, now you know
Let's all get together while we still can
The Beasts are back... again
Read our review of The Beasts' 2023 Sydney gig.
Tickets on sale from 23 January.
The Beasts 2024 Tour Dates
Fri 5 Apr - The Metro (Sydney)Sat 6 Apr - The Triffid (Brisbane)
Fri 12 Apr - The Gov (Adelaide)
Sat 13 Apr - Freo.Social (Fremantle)
Fri 19 Apr - Chelsea Heights Hotel (Melbourne)
Sat 20 Apr - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)
