Rats Down Under

iang · Someone's Looking At You

Rats Down Under

BTR · Tonight

New tour dates added:

www.theboomtownrats.com

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Amazing news. It shows that they are serious about it, not just messing about. The omens are certainly good for more UK, Irish and European dates in the future. You don't go to the other side of the world on tour unless you mean business, and basically I hope the band find an audience In Oz.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Apparently, Perth is on 28th May not 30th. Oh how I wish I could go to Oz for a few weeks. How amazing would that be

. Yes, I'm hoping this means there will be more dates around the rest of the world, and most especially the UK.

I want to see the Rats take the world by storm and show everyone what they were missing and what they so harshly underrated all those years ago. Go Rats!

diffbrook · House on Fire

Blimey.

Really hope that they add some UK dates. Wouldnt be at all surprised if a Xmas tour of the UK is in the offering.

Derek The Dane · V Deep

Quite gutted that IOW is NOT going to be the first show.I know it sounds a bit ego but I would have thought twice about spending all this money if I had know it was not going to be the first concert since 1986.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Derek The Dane wrote:
Quite gutted that IOW is NOT going to be the first show.I know it sounds a bit ego but I would have thought twice about spending all this money if I had know it was not going to be the first concert since 1986.

Bit surprised it wasn't first major show, but Pulp did much the same on their comeback doing 4 dates prior to the one they announced first. You could ask for your money back.

suss · In the Long Grass

diffbrook wrote:
Blimey.

Really hope that they add some UK dates. Wouldnt be at all surprised if a Xmas tour of the UK is in the offering.

The 'other' Rats date at Skeggy in November looks to have fallen by the wayside. Maybe with good reason, or just coincidence, but keeps run up to Christmas free confuse

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
diffbrook wrote:

Really hope that they add some UK dates. Wouldnt be at all surprised if a Xmas tour of the UK is in the offering.
The 'other' Rats date at Skeggy in November looks to have fallen by the wayside. Maybe with good reason, or just coincidence, but keeps run up to Christmas free

Surprised the Class of 77 dates are still present. I would have thought one last gig with Bob Bradbury would be in order, but it's going to be odd to tour Australia and then do two big gigs in UK and Ireland before being third on the bill out in the sticks. Also if one of Bob Bradbury's any other incarnations get bookings, wouldn't he take those on ahead of the Rats?

All a bit odd having three different cross pollinating acts at the moment.

BTR · Tonight

Derek The Dane wrote:
Quite gutted that IOW is NOT going to be the first show.I know it sounds a bit ego but I would have thought twice about spending all this money if I had know it was not going to be the first concert since 1986.

Don't worry because the IOW festival is to be the first UK gig.

diffbrook · House on Fire

I would think that if they are to tour Xmas this year, then dates etc will l be publicised this spring. So may know quite soon?

suss · In the Long Grass

BTR wrote:
Don't worry because the IOW festival is to be the first UK gig.

Anything in the pipeline before Oz? Don't expect an answer as to where and when but sure I'm not the only one who would like to be at the first 'proper' gig - leaving warmups aside. Europe, for example, seems a shade more doable than Brisbane.

suss · In the Long Grass

Am I missing something?? If I read it right, the top tickets for Sydney ("VIP" front row) are $649 AUD! Not too far short of £450. WTF?? I'd expect Bob to wander down and serve me some vintage Bolly personally for that kind of cash. Oh and it's only that price for cash, more for credit.

Even cheapest seats are around £47. Hope this doesn't backfire badly for them.

http://www.sydentcent.com.au/Events/Boomtown-Rats/

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Cool poster for one of the gigs.

suss · In the Long Grass

Wonder if Mental as Anything are doing the whole tour? That 'hey there you with the sad face' line would be highly appropriate for boracic Sydney front rowers.

Always preferred Midnight Oil myself.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I WANT that poster!!!

ArrGee1991 · Dave

VIP Tickets

VIP seating in the first 3 rows, Entry to the exclusive after party where the band will be in attendance, Drinks & canapés during the after party and CD signed by the band. Just select VIP Reserve when purchasing to secure your ticket!

Maybe not Bolly served by Bob but as close as you'll ever be!

ArrGee1991 · Dave

suss wrote:
Wonder if Mental as Anything are doing the whole tour? That 'hey there you with the sad face' line would be highly appropriate for boracic Sydney front rowers.
Always preferred Midnight Oil myself.

Mental as Anything are supporting all dates from what I can see.

Personally my favourite Australian band is AC/DC, but I guess the Aussies are glad it's not Men at Work with their Sting impressionist.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Am I missing something?? If I read it right, the top tickets for Sydney ("VIP" front row) are $649 AUD! Not too far short of £450. WTF??

If only you knew what I spent for those front row tickets at Cadogan Hall

I have been pretty much in the front row every time I have seen the Rats and Geldof, except for when I saw them at The Rainbow. Still considering I bunked in for free that night, I shouldn't really complain. At Hammersmith, I was notionally sat in the third or fourth row. but somehow ended up in the first row fairly central.

To put this into perspective, I got two seats in the second row for One Direction at the O2 London for face value, £90 the pair and a free DVD to boot. Someone was absolutely delighted to get them. Not me I hasten to add.

Lauren @MissLauren_7

Whaaaaat. Preferred seating is selling #Boomtownrats VIP tickets and back stage passes for $650! I cannot afford that so I'm gonna go cry.

raticus · She's So Modern

I cant wait - the mentals arent bad live. One thing that worries me is the venues - as much as i luv the band i can't see them selling enought tickets for the large entertainment centres, i hope i am wrong but i dont want it to be a downer.

Oz heart · Lookin' After Number 1

You can't buy tickets to concerts in Australia for much less than $100 so tickets from $69 is fantastic.

also the VIP price is cheaper than other experience type tickets And I guess they will be limited like normal to a small number. All up it comes down to a choice .....$69 all day for me thank you very much wink

noelindublin · Loudmouth

The best band from Oz ever, period was The saints, from Brisbane. Wish they were supporting the Rats. I'm Stranded is one of the top ten punk songs ever. Chris Bailey is one of the best singers and lyricist to emerge from the punk era. Geldof is quited as being a fan, and their music certainly had lots in common with the Rats.

Any real punk fans would know about The Saints, so it's a pity a band like that are not supporting the Rats. Just my tuppenceworth.

Ps Love the hear The Rats do a cover of I'm Stranded to celebrate their Australian tour. Surely there are some Aussie Saints fans out there to back me up? The other great Aussie band was The Go Betweens.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 4th of March 2013 02:16:57 PM

raticus · She's So Modern

noelindublin wrote:
The best band from Oz ever, period was The saints, from Brisbane. Wish they were supporting the Rats. I'm Stranded is one of the top ten punk songs ever. Chris Bailey is one of the best singers and lyricist to emerge from the punk era. Geldof is quited as being a fan, and their music certainly had lots in common with the Rats.
Any real punk fans would know about The Saints, so it's a pity a band like that are not supporting the Rats. Just my tuppenceworth.
Ps Love the hear The Rats do a cover of I'm Stranded to celebrate their Australian tour. Surely there are some Aussie Saints fans out there to back me up? The other great Aussie band was The Go Betweens.
The saints are the best thing musically to come outa Oz...so underated in Thier own homeland. to have them play with the rats wouldnt have been soo out there as the Saints did a tour with Blondie last year (but not Adelaide GRRR)

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 4th of March 2013 02:16:57 PM

noelindublin · Loudmouth

raticus wrote:
noelindublin wrote:
The best band from Oz ever, period was The saints, from Brisbane. Wish they were supporting the Rats. I'm Stranded is one of the top ten punk songs ever. Chris Bailey is one of the best singers and lyricist to emerge from the punk era. Geldof is quited as being a fan, and their music certainly had lots in common with the Rats.
Any real punk fans would know about The Saints, so it's a pity a band like that are not supporting the Rats. Just my tuppenceworth.
Ps Love the hear The Rats do a cover of I'm Stranded to celebrate their Australian tour. Surely there are some Aussie Saints fans out there to back me up? The other great Aussie band was The Go Betweens.
The saints are the best thing musically to come outa Oz...so underated in Thier own homeland. to have them play with the rats wouldnt have been soo out there as the Saints did a tour with Blondie last year (but not Adelaide GRRR)

-- Edited by noelindublin on Monday 4th of March 2013 02:16:57 PM
Well done Raticus, love it when someone backs up my opinion. I think The Saints are one of the great underrated bands. Some great singles like Know Your Product, a cynical take on the world of advertising and This Perfect Day. One of the best albums of the eighties was All Fools Day (1987) and it's a pity that Chris Bailey is not more widely known. Same goes for Ed Keupper and his later bands The Laughing Clowns and The Aints.
The Go Betweens were more sucessful on this side of the world, by again are not known too much outside indie/alternative music circuts. Doubtless there are lots of other Aussie bands we should know about, but in music the cream does not always rise to the top. Radio Birdman was a precursor to The Saints, but again they are a cult thing rather than being mainstream.

raticus · She's So Modern

Was great supprise to be listening to the radio while driving today and hearing an ad for the adeliade gig..starting to get real excited.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

ArrGee1991 wrote:
VIP Tickets
VIP seating in the first 3 rows, Entry to the exclusive after party where the band will be in attendance, Drinks & canapés during the after party and CD signed by the band. Just select VIP Reserve when purchasing to secure your ticket!

I went into the order system for Perth and was given seats 23 and 24 in front row, which is more or less the centre.

Are these gigs going to take place with the first three rows empty?

Even at the next price level (AU$ 140 ~= £100) the eighth row was available. Everyone will be sat upstairs in the cheap seats!

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Geldof certainly has been getting around in Australia, mainly Perth. There is a good interview with his on ABC with Russell Wolfe, well the first part before he starts blinding us with statistics about Africa! Wolfe, seemingly a genuine fan asks him what he will be wearing and Bob replies that he is getting a snakeskin suit made for the gigs. Mid life crisis or what? Not sure if Bob was joking or not.

He is attending a gym in London, and taking boxing classes as encouraged by Bono. Also lots of Aussie newspaper interviews, and readers comments. A lot of people wonder if the Rats can sell out the gigs, seeing as they only had one hit in Australia I Don't Like Mondays. Still I presume anyone going will know much more than just one track.

Scottie · Loudmouth

Have you seen the size of the venue in Melbourne? Can they fill it?

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Rather than play large stadia they should just have stuck to smallish, credible music venues that have a capacity of under 1,000 people. I'm sure all the major cities in Oz have their own legendary small venues than have gained a good reputation over the years.

One thing is that there are lots of Irish now in Oz so maybe that will help. These are mainly of the younger generation, forced out by the economic situation in Ireland. Whether going to see the Rats has any appeal we shall see. They only had one hit in Australia but that doesn't mean people do not know their albums or other singles.

I've seen some comments from Oz saying the order should be reversed, with the Rats supporting Mental As Anything. Seems the Mentals had much more success down under. It could be a Jack Sprat and his wife job in the end.

PS Cork capacity is 4,000 and Devon is 5,000 both much more 'doable'.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
... they should just have stuck to smallish, credible music venues that have a capacity of under 1,000 people.
...
I've seen some comments from Oz saying the order should be reversed, with the Rats supporting Mental As Anything. Seems the Mentals had much more success down under.

Only worth going to Australia for big money, hence big stadia.

Arguably Mental as Anything have a more well known hit, and certainly have had a few down under.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
noelindublin wrote:
... they should just have stuck to smallish, credible music venues that have a capacity of under 1,000 people.
...
I've seen some comments from Oz saying the order should be reversed, with the Rats supporting Mental As Anything. Seems the Mentals had much more success down under.
Only worth going to Australia for big money, hence big stadia.
Arguably Mental as Anything have a more well known hit, and certainly have had a few down under.

Whatever about the others Geldof does not need the money. He is estimated to have a fortune of over £30 million so any 'earnings' would be peanuts to him. He is upfront about this and to his credit says he is only doing this reformation because he wants to and feels that the time is right.

I suspect Geldof was swayed by the offer of the IOW Festival as a comeback enticement. IOW Festival promoter John Giddings is said to have asked Garry Roberts to 'sound out' Geldof about a Rats reunion so maybe for once the famous Geldof ego was not driving things. With an offer to play at such a prestigious festival that he had attended and seen some of his heroes in his youth Geldof was in.

The Australian gigs might be a bit ambitious - it's really hard to tell.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Only worth going to Australia for big money, hence big stadia.
Whatever about the others Geldof does not need the money. He is estimated to have a fortune of over £30 million so any 'earnings' would be peanuts to him. He is upfront about this and to his credit says he is only doing this reformation because he wants to and feels that the time is right.
The Australian gigs might be a bit ambitious - it's really hard to tell.

I don't mean it's about making big money, but they have to get big money to make it worthwhile and not be down on the deal. Simply flying the band over and around the venues would cost a lot even if they just hired equipment over there. If they bring their own gear then it is more expensive still.

suss · In the Long Grass

Re: poster

I hadn't taken much notice of the background, only the pic. Looks like it was laying in someone's hall. You got a sneaky early press copy ArrGee?? smile

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

no, it was on tw@tface

@churchosborne28 Feb

Signage delivered #Boomtownrats #bobgeldof Challenge Stadium May 28 Get your tickets fast. #DownUnderEvents pic.twitter.com/dbD2ogfw4K

Retweeted by Arr Gee

noelindublin · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
noelindublin wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Only worth going to Australia for big money, hence big stadia.
Whatever about the others Geldof does not need the money. He is estimated to have a fortune of over £30 million so any 'earnings' would be peanuts to him. He is upfront about this and to his credit says he is only doing this reformation because he wants to and feels that the time is right.
The Australian gigs might be a bit ambitious - it's really hard to tell.
I don't mean it's about making big money, but they have to get big money to make it worthwhile and not be down on the deal. Simply flying the band over and around the venues would cost a lot even if they just hired equipment over there. If they bring their own gear then it is more expensive still.

I see what you mean ArrGee. It has to make some financial sense, and there is not much point in touring and losing money. Whether they make any is another matter and it's the same for lots of bands.