Public Enemy Cancel Australian Tour

American hip-hop pioneers Public Enemy have cancelled their Australian tour, the group citing frontman Chuck D requiring urgent eye surgery. The dates were set to begin this Saturday (5 October) at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena.

Public Enemy shared a statement about the cancellation, writing: “I’m sorry to make you wait a little longer but I need to get this eye surgery done, so I can really rock the house for you and Bring The Noise. Stay tuned for the new dates.”

Ticketholders will be advised of the rescheduled dates once they’re confirmed and won’t need to take action. Original purchases will be valid for the rescheduled dates without any need for exchange. If you need a refund, you can head to the Ticketek website. Refunds will be issued to the purchasing credit card.

The band were set to return to Australia and celebrate the 35th anniversary of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back.

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, released via Def Jam and Columbia Records in June 1988, charted for 47 weeks on the Billboard 200, thanks to iconic singles like Rebel Without A Pause, Bring The Noise, Don’t Believe The Hype, Night Of The Living Baseheads, and Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos.

In 1990, Public Enemy’s profile grew even larger following the release of the iconic album Fear Of A Black Planet and its unforgettable single, Fight The Power. In 2013, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Today’s announcement follows the quiet cancellation of the group’s tour dates in Adelaide, Newcastle, and Perth, leaving dates for Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. The news broke of those dates no longer happening in late August.

In a statement shared on the Ticketek website, tour promoters TEG Live advised that the shows were cancelled due to “unforeseen scheduling issues.”

The promoters added that purchased tickets will receive a full refund, with tickets to be automatically refunded in full to the original payment method.

The tour was set to take place over the next two weeks. Public Enemy were going to perform at Perth’s Red Hill Auditorium on Wednesday, 2 October, Adelaide’s AEC Theatre on Friday, 4 October, Melbourne’s John Cain Arena on Saturday, 5 October, Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday, 9 October, Newcastle Entertainment Centre on Friday, 11 October, and Brisbane’s Eatons Hill Outdoor on Saturday, 12 October. The Melbourne show was later moved to Margaret Court Arena.

Public Enemy were set to be joined by Australia’s A.B. Original on all dates.