Update - 20 June, 2024: With the Brisbane, Castlemaine and Melbourne shows selling out, the band have added second shows in Brisbane and Melbourne. Scroll down for the new details.
One of the global pioneers of punk music, Australian legends The Saints have reformed ahead of the vinyl box set release of their bona-fide 1977 classic debut '(I'm) Stranded' later this year.
After the death of co-founder Chris Bailey in 2022, this incarnation of the band is dubbed The Saints '73-'78, and will focus on The Saints' first three records: '(I’m) Stranded' (1977), 'Eternally Yours' (1978) and 'Prehistoric Sounds' (1978).With original members guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay, The Saints '73-'78 will be fronted by grunge legend Mark Arm (vocalist for Mudhoney and manager of the Sub Pop warehouse), the trio joined by honourary Saints Sunnyboys bassist Peter Oxley and former The Birthday Party-Bad Seeds guitarist Mick Harvey.
The Saints '73-'78 will tour nationally in November with concerts scheduled in Adelaide, Castlemaine, Melbourne, Fremantle, Sydney and Brisbane. "The Saints' first three albums rank among the best records ever made," enthuses Mark Arm.
"They have been a part of my life since stumbling upon them in the early '80s. "Their influence looms large in Mudhoney world. I am stoked, stunned, and humbled that I get to join in on this rock & roll reality camp with Ed, Ivor, Peter and Mick!"
A legendary band many consider the first punk band outside of the US – The Saints' 1975 debut single '(I'm) Stranded' was released ahead of the first UK punk releases from The Damned, The Sex Pistols and The Clash – Sir Bob Geldof once said: "Rock music in the '70s was changed by three bands – The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Saints."
"I'm really looking forward to having the chance to be playing these great songs again and capturing the original excitement and energy of the first three albums," drummer Ivor Hay says.
Adds Ed Kuepper: "It's great to be given the opportunity to run through this set of songs again and especially the chance to work with a group of people of the calibre of Mark, Mick, Pete and especially Ivor, who is one of the most distinctive drummers I've had the pleasure to work with.
"I'm feeling chuffed that they're all onboard for this. We'll be concentrating exclusively on material from and around the first three albums, including stuff that hasn't been performed live in Australia before. . . or, at least for a pretty long time. . . very much looking forward to this. Catch us if you can, pop fans."
The tour coincides with the 15 November release of a deluxe edition of '(I'm) Stranded' (pre-order it) all housed in a beautifully embossed box and featuring:
• 4x LPs covering all recordings; studio and live from 1976-77. Includes the previously unreleased 1976 mix of the album
• 28 page 12" x 12" full colour photo essay
• Official band history
• 1976 promo photo
• (I'm) Stranded sticker
"It's been an exhausting yet thrilling process being involved in the creation of this box set," Ed says. "It's been 51 years in the making and has possibly turned out even better than I anticipated.
"It's by far the most extensive appraisal of the band, both aurally and visually, that has ever been made available and hopefully reveals some things people may not have known about the band."
Tickets on sale from 12pm (local time) on 14 June.
The Saints '73-'78 2024 Tour Dates
Wed 13 Nov - Hindley Street Music Hall (Adelaide)Fri 15 Nov - Theatre Royal (Castlemaine)* sold out
Sat 16 Nov - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)* sold out
Sun 17 Nov - Northcote Theatre (Melbourne)* new show
Wed 20 Nov - Freo.Social (Fremantle)
Fri 22 Nov - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)* sold out
Sat 23 Nov - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)* sold out
Sun 24 Nov - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)* sold out
Mon 25 Aug - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)* new show
Wed 27 Aug - Odeon Theatre (Hobert)* new show
Fri 29 Aug - Anita's Theatre (Wollongong)* new show
Sat 30 Aug - The Green Room (Byron Bay)* new show
