While many Australians cherish our island nation status and certain geographic isolation, there’s at least one way where being situated all the way over here in our corner of the world acts against us. Sometimes we’re just too damn far away for international artists to make it here.
Whether it’s Jack White conveniently announcing his touring hiatus before ever giving Aussie fans a live taste of his 2014 solo album Lazaretto, Frank Ocean breaking our hearts with multiple cancellations or Paul McCartney flat out ignoring us for over 20 years, sadly there’s been a number of instances when Aussie fans have been left in the touring lurch.
Now that the Splendour lineup has come and gone, we’ve uncovered the most notorious absentees from the Australian tour scene. Here’s the 11 acts for which we can’t wait any longer to tour. It’s time!
Tours We're Still Waiting For 2015
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Jack White
Jack White – Aussie fans have been waiting, albeit not very patiently, for Jack White to one-up his 2012 Splendour headline set. The release of his latest solo album, Lazaretto, provided the perfect opportunity for White to bring his sprawling blues rock and his weird vinyl contraptions back to Australian shores. Now it looks like we’re going to have to wait even longer - he's just announced a hiatus from live peformance “for a long period of time". Loving you ain’t easy, Jack. -
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey – Lana was also part of the Splendour 2012 lineup and, despite talk of a tour for the end of last year, hasn’t been back since. 2012 was the year she unleashed her hit album Born To Die onto the world, and she now has its Dan Auerbach-produced follow-up, Ultraviolence, to spruik. She’s reportedly at work on her fourth studio album right now, so she’s certainly not short on material. Come on, Lana - not all of us are pretty when we cry. -
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney – It’s hard to believe it but the former Beatle hasn’t played a concert on Australian soil for over 20 years, having last visited us on his New World tour in 1993. Prior to that he played here with Wings in 1975 and The Beatles in 1964. Macca was due to return here in 2002 but cancelled the tour following the Bali bombings, saying at the time “now is not the appropriate time for a rock show”. He’s even going to be in the region in the next few weeks, touring Japan on a string of re-scheduled tour dates. After 22 years, we’re definitely due for a surprise visit. -
Adele
Adele - Soul-singing diva Adele might boast millions of fans worldwide, but surprisingly she’s yet to visit her Aussie ones. She didn’t make it here during her album tour for acclaimed debut, 19, nor for its super successful follow up, 21. After that record, she took some time off for vocal surgery and gave birth to her son. We’re still in for a chance, though, now Adele’s reportedly at work on album number 3 and a 2015 world tour is on the cards. Fingers remained crossed. -
Gorillaz
Gorillaz – It’s been five long years since virtual band Gorillaz brought their live show to Australia, and we’re getting impatient. We were even teased with something called the ‘Gorillaz Sound System DJ set’ this year, which was abruptly cancelled anyhow. A hiatus and news of a fall-out around 2012 put fans on edge about the future of the band, but our spirits were lifted again recently after both Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett confirmed Gorillaz will be “reactivating” for a 2016 release. Maybe we can pressure Albarn about it when he swings by with Blur for Splendour this year? -
Frankocean
Frank Ocean - Frank broke all our hearts when he exited his 2013 debut Australian tour, including his headline set at Splendour, after just one show due to illness. That was after he'd pulled out of a planned 2012 Aussie tour as part of Future Music Festival, so he could finish work on Channel Orange. Since then, he’s made the wish-list for many a festival lineup but has yet to find his way back to us. Now he’s testing our emotions again, by teasing a July release for his much-anticipated new album. -
Halestorm
Halestorm - The rock powerhouse that is America's Halestorm have released three albums over the course of their surging career. They've made history by becoming the first female-fronted band to score three number 1 singles from consecutive albums on America's Active Rock chart, won a Grammy Award for their troubles, and have graced stages all over the world. One problem: THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO AUSTRALIA. NOT ONCE. NOT EVEN TO PAT THE KOALAS. It's a crime, if you ask us. Soundwave 2016? Yes, please. -
System of A Down Gallery
System Of A Down - Yes, we all know that System Of A Down headlined Soundwave 2012, and it may not seem like all that long ago to some of you, but let's consider the facts. The Southern Cali rockers played a buttload of festivals across 2013, reactivated at the end of 2014, are now in the midst of their Wake Up The Souls Euro tour, and are following it up with dates in South America, the US and Canada. Souls in Australia need waking up too, guys. What are we, Chop Suey? -
Dave Mustaine
Megadeth - The only one of thrash metal's Big Four to routinely evade our shores, Megadeth haven't visited Australia since back in 2010. Since then, Dave Mustaine, Dave Ellefson and their revolving door of bandmates have released an album, Super Collider, and begun work on a whole new one. Of course, Megadeth were supposed to break their Down Under dry spell early last year with a spot on the Soundwave 2014 bill, but that didn't end up happening due to Mustaine's controversial last-minute plug-pull. With another new album now in the works, devil horns crossed Aussie 'Deth fans will have more luck this time around. -
No Doubt
No Doubt - 2002 was the last time No Doubt brought their reggae-infused ska pop punk show to Australia, and despite telling Music Feeds in 2012 they had plans on returning with their comeback album, Push and Shove, they haven’t yet. Gwen Stefani and co. have been popping up at a couple of US festivals this year, including the upcoming Las Vegas instalment of Rock in Rio, though Stefani is expected to release her new solo album sometime this year. Come on, guys - we can't end it on this. -
Sia
Sia - Igniting hope in her legion of Australian fans, Sia recently hinted that she might re-think her no-touring policy, should the price be right. Sia hasn’t played her own headline show since 2011, and despite some huge US, UK and (soon) Australian TV performances, hasn’t toured her 2014 album 1000 Forms Of Fear. With a follow-up album reportedly ready to go, the time is ripe for a change of (elastic) heart. Don’t worry, guys: Olivia Newton John is on the case.
