Powderfinger ProfilePowderfinger shocked fans this month by announcing their reunion tour. We’re sure keen punters have wondered since the teasers hit social media: why now? What’s driven the decision to reunite?
The band addressed those questions in a new interview with Zan Rowe, with highlights presented in an article by Double J’s Al Newstead. During the chat, the band revealed that their kids and seeing Cold Chisel’s reunion tour inspired their reformation.
Singer Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bassist John “JC” Collins, drummer Jon Coghill, and long-time manager Paul Piticco began serious discussions about reuniting last May.
Fanning told Zan Rowe that one of the “main reasons” for reuniting with his bandmates was “for my kids,” as they’d never seen the group perform and would “love to” be a part of it now.
Middleton added that “we’re never very cool in our kids’ eyes;” we’re sure they’re looking pretty cool now. He also said falling in love with music and reviving their love for the band were key factors, while Fanning said the time since their 2010 disbandment has deepened the group’s friendships.
Beyond family and rediscovering their love for music, Powderfinger cited Cold Chisel’s Big Five-O anniversary shows under Big Top tents as inspiration for their upcoming tour, which will also feature shows under tents.
“It feels like a festival, but it’s indoors; it’s the best of both worlds,” Fanning said. He saw Cold Chisel for the first time on their reunion tour.
Fanning noted that fans probably see Powderfinger the same way he saw Cold Chisel on that tour, and he shared some appreciation for nostalgia’s impact on people.
“There’s a warmth of feeling for that time when Powderfinger was doing well [and] people want to recapture that a little bit,” he said.
He continued, “I think nostalgia gets a bad rap. Because it generates good feelings amongst people, which are seriously lacking in our society at the moment.”
Check out the full interview here.
Today, Powderfinger announced their highly anticipated Encore Run of shows after 26 Australian shows booked for next year already sold out.
Tickets for the band’s reunion trek went on sale last week, with more than 300,000 tickets sold in just six days, eclipsing the general sale of the band’s farewell tour in 2010.
With the massive response, Powderfinger admitted they were “gobsmacked by the response to this tour” and assured fans they were putting together “another string of shows in select destinations that allows as many people as possible to get their hands on tickets.”
Powderfinger will play an additional nine dates, including two shows each at Melbourne Park Oval in Victoria, Hobart’s Cornelian Bay Oval, and Perth’s Sandalford Estate. Following a one-off gig at Canberra’s Stage 88, they’ll head home for two massive hometown gigs at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
The band shared an incredible roster of Australian support acts that will join them on the newly announced shows, including The Living End, Something For Kate, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, The Belair Lip Bombs, Luca Brasi, Full Flower Moon Band, and more; special guests for the sold-out 26 shows will be revealed soon.
