Iconic Australian rock group Cold Chisel have announced this will embark on a national tour to mark 50 years together.
The beloved rockers will hit the road with their ‘Big 5-0 tour’, which will feature 11 performances around the nation in October and November.
The tour begins in Armidale, in regional NSW, on October 5. Fans of the band will remember they were based in the town in 1975-75.
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The tour will continue with the band playing venues in the Gold Coast, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne. Perth, Brisbane, Newcastle, Ballarat, and Hobart.
The tour will culminate in a final performance in Adelaide, where the band formed, at a concert following the city’s 500 supercars event.
On Wednesday, the band including lead singer Jimmy Barnes spoke to Nat Barr on Sunrise, where he made a stark confession during the interview.
“It’s good – it is great to be here celebrating 50 years. Never thought we’d make it,” Barnes said, with his usual candid honestly.
“I didn’t think we’d make 21. I was 16 when I joined Cold Chisel. All the people we loved musically like Muddy Waters, Little Richard, I think toured until they dropped.
“This is not a job you take on for a short period of time and walk away. It’s a life. It’s part of your soul and your spirit. If we didn’t do this, it would be a big piece of our lives missing.”
Barnes reflected on his brush will ill-health. For which he spent time in hospital.
“There was a point where I wasn’t going to make it. All the encouragement. In hospital, walking down the street… People were giving me cuddles.
“It was very moving. I didn’t take it for granted.”
Audiences in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will see the group perform in a specially constructed Big Top tent, in a reference to a 1982 album launch.
Supporting acts include The Cruel Sea, The Superjesus, Birds of Tokyo and Karen Lee Andrews.
Piano player and chief songwriter Don Walker said the band was going all out.
“Bookending the tour in the two places where we first welded the band together, building these circus tent shows in three cities, bringing along some great guests and doing a set which reaches back across our whole song catalogue should all make The Big Five-0 a tour to remember,” he said.
The band will also release a best-of album in August.
Guitarist and singer Ian Moss has reassured fans they’ll hear the most popular hits in the setlist.
“There are a minimum of 15 songs that our audience demands to hear,” he said.
“This time we’ll be playing all of them plus we’ll be throwing in lots of musical surprises.”
Tickets to the Adelaide event go on sale on Wednesday, 12pm.
Limited tickets will go on sale to members of Cold Chisel’s mailing list from 12pm (local times) on Friday, May 31.
General public tickets will go on sale from 12pm (local times) on Tuesday, June 4.
For all tickets follow the links at coldchisel.com.
Dates for Cold Chisel tour
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Petersons Winery, Mount View, Armidale NSW
Presented by Red Hot Summer Tour
Special guests: The Cruel Sea, Birds of Tokyo, The Superjesus and Karen Lee Andrews
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach QLD
Special guest: Karen Lee Andrews
Friday, October 11, 2024
The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park NSW
Special guests: The Cruel Sea and Karen Lee Andrews
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong NSW
Special guest: Karen Lee Andrews
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Sandalford Wines, Caversham WA
Presented by Red Hot Summer Tour
Special guests: Birds of Tokyo, The Cruel Sea, The Superjesus and Karen Lee Andrews
Friday, October 25, 2024
Flemington Racecourse, Flemington VIC
Special guests: The Cruel Sea and Karen Lee Andrews
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Victoria Park, Herston, Brisbane QLD
Special guests: The Cruel Sea and Karen Lee Andrews
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow NSW
Special guest: Karen Lee Andrews
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Victoria Park, Ballarat VIC
Presented by Red Hot Summer Tour
Special guests: The Cruel Sea, Birds of Tokyo, The Superjesus and Karen Lee Andrews
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
MyState Bank Arena, Glenorchy TAS
Special guest: Karen Lee Andrews
Sunday, November 17, 2024
VAILO Adelaide 500, Post Race Concert, Adelaide SA
Special guests: The Cruel Sea and The Superjesus