Last week, a post went out from Metropolis Touring on Instagram, something they claimed was nothing more than an appreciation post for KoЯn's song 'Got The Life' from their 1998 Follow the Leader album, which (coincidentally) the band are currently preparing to tour for it's 20th Anniversary... A lot of people got done by the post (us included, soz), but there has to be some truth behind the madness right? Either that or one of the other promoters in Australia would have seen the calls for it to come to our shores and jumped on the phone straight away to KoЯn's booking agent to talk business...
But on the back of the excitement, we here at Wall of Sound HQ had a chat amongst ourselves about the bands/albums and anniversary tours we desperately need down under and considering bands will tour almost anything nowadays, who knows what could happen with these suggestions chucked into the universe, so, here's our Top 10 Anniversary Tours Australia Needs...
#10. Birds of Tokyo - Universes 10th Anniversary
It's been 10 years since Australia fell in love with Perth's Birds of Tokyo as they hit mainstream success with album number two, Universes, which spawned the fan favourite songs 'BrokenBones', 'WildEyedBoy', 'Medicine' and the absolute banger 'Silohouettic' which used to be the band's live set closer. Nowadays, they'll usually throw that one out first and it just doesn't feel the same... We know the band are currently working on the next album, but a cheeky tour in between couldn't hurt, right?
#9. Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals 20th Anniversary
An album from 1998 that could well and truly be given an Anniversary Tour that fans would lap up. Manson fans have had a love/hate relationship with the musician who, on the last few trips down under, has appeared in a music festival setting where he just doesn't work as well as it did in the 90's. It's the live, smaller scenarios/venues that we'd really get the best from BrianHughWarner. Australians loved the record, sending it to #1 on the Aria Charts upon release and his video clips for 'TheDopeShow' and 'I Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)' were frequently played on Channel [V] (around the same time those rib rumours started circulating). Dye your hair red, paint the top half of your face blue and cross your fingers kids.
#8. Manowar - Kings of Metal 30th Anniversary
Going back 30 Years, Manowar released the final album to feature original member/guitarist Ross "The Boss' Friedman in 1988 and what better way to pay homage to the past than by the band jumping on a plane, back to Australia and playing through the album for those who never got a chance to see their favourite songs from it live. Yes, Ross was here just in April, yes he played Manowar songs in his setlist, no, it's not the same thing, you still need Eric Adams fronting, Joey DeMaio on bass and Donnie Hamzik on drums (with a special tribute for former drummer Scott Columbus who passed away in 2011). If the band could get all of their former members on stage at 2005's Earthshaker Fest in Germany, they can do this for us.
#7. The Offspring - Americana 20th Anniversary
Another band from the 90s that need some nostalgic lovin'. They've already been out on a 20th Anniversary Tour of Smash in 2014 (not to Australia though) so that rules that album out, we're a year too late for Ixnay on the Hombre's 20th Tour so with Americana being one of the band's last decent albums (before the mess that is Days Gone By), who wouldn't want to hear songs like 'The Kids Aren't Alright', 'She's Got Issues', 'Staring at the Sun' or 'Walla Walla' in full alongside commercial hits 'Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)' and 'Why Don't You Get A Job?'
#6. The White Stripes - Elephant 15th Anniversary
In 2003, The White Stripes hit the jackpot with 'Seven Nation Army'. An instant classic which resulted in one of the most globally recognised riffs and music video from the duo consisting of JackWhite and his then wife (not sister) MegWhite. The album Elephant went platinum in Australia and scored a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album and additionally spawned the singles 'The Hardest Button to Button' and 'I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself'. Jack's gone solo nowadays, but a little reunion with the ex wouldn't go down astray for us right? Time heals all wounds 15 years later hey?
#5. System of a Down - 25th Anniversary Set
How to cause a frenzy with your fans: Put out an impressive debut album, become a household name in metal across the world, follow it up with a few stellar release albums Toxicity (2001), Steal This Album! (2002) and double albums Mezmerize &Hypnotize (2005) then do nothing new with the band following this. SerjTankian went solo, JohnDolmayan and Daron Malakian formed Scars on Broadway and Shavo Odadjian did some musical work with Wu-Tang Clan's RZA and the VinDiesel movie Babylon A.D. The band also popped up at Soundwave 2012 after reforming, but thats the last time we heard from the boys... Now, how to send your Aussie fans into an absolute mindblowing frenzy: Announce you're coming back down under in 2019 for a 25th Anniversary Set consisting of all the best songs from your extensive back catalogue and a few surprises. It could help mend relationships that have been broken over the years due to inactivity and open up a whole new world for those who never got the chance to see the band live.
#4. Rollins Band - Hard Volume 30th Anniversary
You know how HenryRollins is playing Splendour in the Grass this year (lineup/details here), and you know how it's his only Australian Show scheduled in, well maybe, just maybe, it could be a way for him to test the waters for a Hard Volume tour next year! Back in 1989 RollinsBand released this second album and it was a post-hardcore lover's paradise from start to end featuring Chris Haskett on guitar, bassist Andrew Weiss and Sim Cain on the drums. Get the awesome foursome back together again and you've got one hell of a celebratory tour fit for any punk/hard rock/post-hardcore brat of any age.
#3. Metallica - ...And Justice For All 30th Anniversary OR 35th Anniversary Discog Set
To be honest, any Metallica would be better than the current amount of Metallica we've witnessed in Australia in recent years. It's been 5 years since they were here last, headlining Soundwave Festival 2013. Before then was their 2010 domination for 2008's comeback album Death Magnetic. Since then they've aged a few years and even released the new album Hardwired... to Self-Destruct back in 2016. Yet we still haven't seen their faces down under since. What better way to make it up to their loyal Aussie fanbase, than by bringing down a tour to end all tours, ...And Justice For All 30th Anniversary Tour complete with two sets, the first set consisting of the band's album played in it's entirety before the boys come back on stage and rip through tracks from Hardwired... and beyond.
Or if that doesn't work for them, they should just come back to Australia and play a show consisting of songs from 1983's Kill 'Em All through to Hardwired... to Self-Destruct in what would be dubbed as Metallica's 35th Anniversary Discography Tour. Either way, you can tell we're stinging for a tour down under and we're open to anything the boys have to offer, so make it happen James, Lars, Kirk and Rob.
#2. Boxcar Racer - 20th Anniversary
Isn't this a bit obscure you may be asking? Kinda, but hear me out. Last year TomDelongecaused shockwaves when he started playing Box Car Racer songs on Instagram Live, he also stated that he was on talking terms again with TravisBarker, he asked fans who should do guest vocals on a follow up album (if one were to be made) and he also released the 15th Anniversary Edition Vinyl of Box Car's debut album. So to say that BCR is dead and buried is a lie and you know it. There is plenty of time and potential to make this a reunion tour to remember, especially by bringing it down under. Back in 2002 Tom, Travis, DavidKennedy and AnthonyCelestino hit the road across America with TheUsed playing 22 shows after lead single 'I Feel So' blew up bigger than expected, unfortunately, this also consequently saw the downfall of blink-182 for the first time. At the end of their final show, Delonge said he'd like to experiment with BoxCarRacer again in future stating it'd be: "an every-other-year type thing."
Well, what better time to jump back in the game again with his other, other band than an Australian 20th Anniversary Tour in 2022 which gives Tom Delonge plenty of time to wrap up his current obligations with To The Stars..., Travis Barker to jump on a cruise to make it down here in time and for David Kennedy and Anthony Celestino to come out of hibernation and kick off the reunion of the century. It doesn't matter if tickets cost upwards of $200 I'm sure dedicated fans would dish out anything they could to see this happen, and for those who say reunions like this never happen in Australia, just wait until you see who is in our #1 spot...
and the winner is...
#1. Rage Against The Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles 20th Anniversary
OR Big Day Out 10th Anniversary Show Revisited
"Bands don't reform and play in Australia!" Well, how do you explain the awesomeness that was Big Day Out 2008 when out of no-fucking-where a reformed Rage Against The Machine made their way down under to play for Australian fans (after first appearing at Coachella 2007), during a time when the World/America needed them the most, George W. Bush's time in office. Currently, we have the WORST scumbag in office in the states and the one thing that would make light of a dark and shitty situation, could be the return to RATM.
Option A: Big Day Out 10th Anniversary Show - Revisited. To celebrate a decade since Rage were last on stage together in Australia, we get them back for a string of shows to mark the anniversary of the time they completely took us by surprise and exceeded all expectations of what a Big Day Out lineup could truly be. I don't even care if it's the same set, that would be a monumental occasion for fans who never got the chance to see them live on Australian soil. And for those who did, a nice tip of the hat to the last time they were in the presence of greatness. Fun Fact: Their video for 'Bulls on Parade' features footage from the first time they played Big Day Out (back in 1996) and their sideshow in Sydney so they've got already got a great relationship with Australian fans.
Option B: The Battle of LA 20th Anniversary Tour. Simple, yet effective. The band take us back two decades and play their most recognised (and arguably best) release to date. All 12 songs played one after another from 'Testify', 'Guerilla Radio' and 'Calm Like a Bomb' all the way to the climax of 'War Within a Breath' before fan favourites 'Bulls on Parade', 'Wake Up', 'Bullet in the Head' and 'Killing In The Name' are busted out for good measure and quality assurance.
So that's how you do a list of Anniversary Tours Australia Needs. We've seen an influx of them coming in over the past few years, some of which have missed the mark or are too early to celebrate in our opinions, but what do you think about the list we've provided? Anyone or Any Album missing that needed to be included? Make sure you tell us.
To wrap things up, relive the madness that was Rage Against The Machine's opening song at Big Day Out Sydney in 2008, 'Testify'.
Written by Browny @brownypaul
