The Damned Announce Final Australian Tour

Less than a year after The Damned returned to Australia as part of June 2023’s RISING Festival in Melbourne – with some accompanying tour dates – the British gothic punks will embark on their final Australian tour in March 2024.

In addition to these dates being the band’s last in Australia, they also mark the first tour with the band’s classic line-up of Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible, Rat Scabies and Paul Gray since 1989.

The band are often regarded alongside The Clash and Sex Pistols as a seminal force in driving the genre’s popularity thanks to their frenetic fusion of punk rock, gothic influences and dark lyrics. Formed in 1976, The Damned’s career spans over four decades, releasing numerous acclaimed albums, including Damned Damned Damned, Machine Gun Etiquette, and Phantasmagoria. 

A press release notes that the band will perform highlights from their essential albums Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album and Strawberries, as well as hits like Neat Neat Neat, New Rose and many more.

“It seemed like the right time. We wanted to do this while we are all still upright, breathing and capable of doing it at a high level and challenge ourselves and each other for the fans,” Rat Scabies shared in a press release.

“We will play the best of Machine Gun Etiquette, The Black Album and Strawberries album and chuck in all the other classics. Paul’s playing great (just did the Professor And The Madman album thing with him), as is Captain, and Dave’s singing great too, so it’s going to be amazing to be back.”

The Damned’s final Australian tour begins on Wednesday, 20 March, at The Tivoli in Brisbane (Meanjin), before heading to the Enmore Theatre in Sydney (Eora) on Thursday, 21 March, Melbourne’s (Naarm) Northcote Theatre on Friday, 22 March, Adelaide’s (Kaurna) Hindley Street Music Hall on Sunday, 24 March, and ends at Perth’s (Boorloo) Astor Theatre on Tuesday, 26 March.

The pre-sale begins on Tuesday, 5 December, at 9 am local time, with the general sale starting on Thursday, 7 December, at 9 am local time. Tickets will be available via the Metropolis Touring website.

THE DAMNED

2024 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES

Wed, 20 March: The Tivoli, Brisbane (Meanjin)

Thurs, 21 March: Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Eora)

Fri, 22 March: Northcote Theatre, Melbourne (Naarm)

Sun, 24 March: Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide (Kaurna)

Tues, 26 March: Astor Theatre, Perth (Boorloo)