Thirsty Merc To Resume National Tour Next Week

The members of stalwart rock outfit Thirsty Merc are doing their best to move forward from the tragic road accident that claimed the life of their stage manager, Shane Cooper, and left their drummer, Mick Skelton, fighting for his own, announcing today that they will be resuming their national tour from next week.

With Skelton on the path to recovery, the band will pick up their tour at Canberra's ANU Bar this Wednesday 7 October. In light of the tragedy, a percentage of proceeds from the impending shows' ticket sales will go to the Cooper and Skelton families to provide assistance through their period of grief, while a benefit concert is also currently being planned.

Speaking of the band's "really hard time" of late, the members said in a statement today: "There were moments where we seriously questioned whether we'd be walking out on stage at all for the rest of the year."

"We'll always be thinking of Shane," they said. "We find some comfort in knowing that he had so many happy moments in his last days with us. Our thoughts are also with Mick every day as he continues to make a recovery — we're sending him all the strength we can muster up.

"We want to say our deepest thanks to everyone who has reached out recently. It's been overwhelming; it's changed our perspective on life on the road. We've been shown a lot of love through that support, and it really has helped us as a band in getting through a truly devastating time.

"The Merc would like to share the love with everyone at the upcoming shows, so we can send as much as we can back to Shane, Mick and their families, who need it most right now."

For further information, or to purchase the band's new album Shifting Gears, see Thirsty Merc's website.

the good life tour: remaining dates

Wednesday 7 October — ANU Bar, Canberra

Thursday 8 October — Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale

Friday 9 October — Halekulani Bowling Club, Central Coast

Saturday 10 October — Baroque Room, Katoomba

Sunday 11 October — Club Forster, Forster-Tuncurry

Wednesday 14 October — The Basement, Sydney

Thursday 15 October — Panthers, Port Macquarie

Friday 16 October — Armidale Services Club, Armidale

Saturday 17 October — Grafton District Services Club, Grafton

Sunday 18 October — Hoey Moey Beergarden, Coffs Harbour (free show)

Wednesday 21 October — Spotted Cow, Toowoomba

Thursday 22 October — Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast

Friday 23 October — The Zoo, Brisbane

Saturday 24 October — Villa Noosa, Noosa

Wednesday 28 October — Northcote Social Club, Melbourne

Thursday 29 October — Home Tavern, Wagga Wagga

Sunday 1 November — Wangaratta Jazz Festival, King George Gardens, Wangaratta

Saturday 7 November — Belmont 16's, Newcastle

Sunday 8 November — Heathcote Hotel, Heathcote

Thursday 12 November — Friends Restaurant, Perth

Friday 13 November — Boab Tavern, High Wycombe

Saturday 14 November — Charles Hotel, Perth

Sunday 15 November — Ravenswood Hotel, Perth

Friday 20 November — SSA Club, Albury (free show)

Saturday 21 November — Mulwala Ski Club, Mulwala (free show)

Friday 27 November — Coopers Alehouse, Wallaroo

Saturday 28 November — Palmerston Tavern, Darwin