Resist. What a fitting end to a storied career. And right on time. When the need to resist has never been more urgent.
Photo: Midnight Oil – Resist
28 February 2022 | James Porteous | Clipper Media
Lots of news from the band. Some of the events have already taken place. I have tried to omit those but you will details on the Midnight Oil page.
Also check this page for updates on Australian dates etc.
Below you will find details on the Resist album (including a video of one song), and dates and ticket info for North American and European tour.
Check out soon as pre-sales will be taking place almost at once.
James Porteous / Clipper Media News
MIDNIGHT OIL ANNOUNCE ‘RESIST’: A NEW ALBUM. A FINAL TOUR.
FEBRUARY – APRIL 2022
MIDNIGHT OIL
RESIST: THE FINAL TOUR
NORTH AMERICA & EUROPEAN DATES
JUNE – JULY 2022
Midnight Oil remain very open to recording new music together in future and supporting causes in which they believe, but this will be their last tour.
Midnight Oil presser
In 2017 Midnight Oil returned from a long hiatus with a sweat drenched pub gig at the legendary Sydney venue, Selinas. In the middle of that special set, frontman Peter Garrett borrowed some famous lines, exhorting “rage, rage, against the dying of the light”. And that’s exactly what they’ve done ever since.
They sold out 77 shows in 16 countries on their epic “Great Circle” tour. They toured Europe again, did a memorable gig in the outback, then returned to the studio for the first time in over 18 years and recorded 20 new songs.
The first batch of that material, The Makarrata Project, debuted at #1 on the same weekend that longtime bass player Bones Hillman sadly died. Despite that profound blow, and a global pandemic, the band and their First Nations Collaborators still mounted their acclaimed “Makarrata Live” shows early this year – championing the Uluru Statement and highlighting ongoing injustices suffered by First Nations people.
Today Midnight Oil announced that this chapter of their career will come to a memorable close next year with the release of the other 12 new songs they recorded with Bones and a series of big gigs. Both are aptly titled Resist.
The band also announced that this will be their final concert tour while making it clear that this does not mean the end of the Oils. Each of the members will continue their own projects over the years ahead. They remain very open to recording new music together in future and supporting causes in which they believe, but this will be their last tour.
Meanwhile Resist will be a fitting, forward-looking, statement for a band whose clarion call has always been “it’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees”.
The tour will see them performing classic Midnight Oil songs from across their repertoire while also showcasing some urgent new works. As the title makes abundantly clear, Resist engages with the issues of today and tomorrow – like the lead single Rising Seas which tackles the climate crisis in typically uncompromising fashion.
Rob Hirst says: “If I look back, I see a blur of familiar names and faces: Jim, Pete, Martin, Bear and me, slamming loud prog-pop in a Chatswood garage; Giffo, magnificent, rocking back and forth at his first Royal Antler gig; Bonesy, headphones on, singing, lounging on the deck learning our catalogue.
“I see our managers in their offices – Gary, Zev and John; our tour managers in their cars and buses – Constance, Neil, and Willie Mac; our producers in their studios, Keith, Lez, Glyn, Nick and Warne; and our crew on countless stages, Michael, Oysters, Ozzy, Doc, Nick, Jock, Gerry – and so many more.
“I see our folks-in-the-engine-room that the outside world has never seen: Stephanie, Wayne, Diana, Arlene, Jonesy, Craig, Geoff H, Chris P, Peter T, and Mel C.
“I see our wives and trusted friends, and the tiny faces of the ‘Baby Oils’, watching us from side of stage, from Sydney to Sao Paulo to Saskatoon.
“But mostly, blinded by stage lights, I see the first two rows of a thousand gigs: Midnight Oil fans, pumping, jumping, singing louder than the band.
“But I don’t look back.”
Peter Garrett says: “We all know time refuses to stand still for anyone but after many years together the band’s spirit is deep, the music and words are strong, and our ideas and actions as bold as we can make them. We’ve reached people in ways we never could have imagined. Our desire to create and speak out is undimmed. We hope everyone who hears this album and gets to one of the shows will come away charged up about the planet’s future, saying ‘why stop now?’. Having always tackled every tour like it’s the last – this time it actually will be.”
Jim Moginie says: “We’ve played intensely physical gigs since our humble beginnings back in 1977 and we never want to take even the slightest risk of compromising that. A lot has happened over the last five years. Much has been achieved and with the passing of Bones much has been lost, so it now feels like we’re at the end of a cycle.
“These will be sad and beautiful gigs but luckily we’re still capable of blowing the roof off any stage and that’s what we intend to do. You could call this a farewell tour, but Midnight Oil will still continue in some form or other as we’re brothers, family. We stand as one, dependent on each other and grateful in all the important ways that make great bands great.”
Martin Rotsey says: “A huge thank you to all our fans around the world. We’ve shared so much together from the swelter of Sydney pubs to magical nights under starry skies. Your energy took us further than we could ever have dreamed.
“To those down the front in the maelstrom, those at the back of the room singing their hearts out, and all of those onstage, backstage, and back home who helped make everything possible, we send our thanks.”
Resist will be Midnight Oil’s 15th studio release since the band exploded out of the post-punk scene back in 1978, blazing a singular trail of blistering gigs through Australia’s pubs and clubs.
In the four decades since they have created an unparalleled string of classic tracks including I Don’t Wanna Be The One, Power & The Passion, US Forces, Best Of Both Worlds, The Dead Heart, Blue Sky Mine, Forgotten Years, Truganini, Redneck Wonderland, Say Your Prayers and the 2020 APRA Song of the Year, Gadigal Land (feat. Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs and Bunna Lawrie).
Their Diesel & Dust LP topped the critics’ “100 Best Australian Albums Of All Time” and its worldwide hit Beds Are Burning is one of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock’n’Roll” according to the U.S. Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame. The band’s performance of that song at the Sydney Olympics is etched in the memory of billions.
From the northern beaches of Sydney to the streets of Manhattan, they have stopped traffic, inflamed passions, inspired fans, challenged the concepts of “business as usual” and broken much new ground. Seeing Midnight Oil in full flight is to experience the kinetic power of live rock’n’roll. They leave you inspired to live life more passionately and to Resist.
Midnight Oil calls for governments to urgently take serious actions that reduce carbon pollution. This tour will embrace best practices for emission reductions and offsetting. A portion of proceeds will be set aside for organisations seeking to elevate the existential threat posed by the climate crisis.
February 18, 2022
MIDNIGHT OIL RESIST: THE NEW ALBUM
Nearly 20 years after their last full length studio release, Australia’s iconic Midnight Oil today release the brand-new album, aptly titled RESIST.
In signature style these dozen tracks tackle a slew of urgent issues. From opener, ‘Rising Seas’ through ‘Last Frontier’ which closes the set, recurring themes include climate crisis, environmental degradation and the role of citizens alive to the immense challenges of our times.
Moods stretch from the wilderness reverie of ‘Tarkine’ and the poignant ‘Lost At Sea’ to the anthemic protest celebration ‘We Resist’ while the album’s musical span is equally broad, encompassing slashing guitars in new single ‘At The Time Of Writing’ and brooding synthetic textures in ‘We Are Not Afraid’. There’s even a three-part epic called ‘The Barka-Darling River’ that keeps delivering surprising twists as it snakes along.
In line with the album coming out today, the band have also shared the video for ‘We Resist’. This short film combines submissions of protest actions by Midnight Oil fans from around the globe as well as archival footage from a handful of the many such events staged by the band over the years.
This short film combines submissions of protest actions by Midnight Oil fans from around the globe as well as archival footage from a handful of the many such events staged by the band over the years. The song is drawn from Midnight Oil’s new album ‘Resist’.
RESIST is Midnight Oil’s 15th studio release since they first exploded out of the post-punk scene back in 1978, blazing a singular trail of blistering gigs from Australia’s pubs and clubs to arenas and festivals around the world.
It is a fitting, forward looking, statement for a band whose clarion call has always been “it’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees”. Featuring stellar production by Warne Livesey (DIESEL & DUST, BLUE SKY MINING, CAPRICORNIA) RESIST will be accompanied by some special live performances that will comprise the group’s final concert tour.
This new album was actually recorded in late 2019 and thus features long-time bass player, Bones Hillman, who sadly passed away 12 months later.
Those sessions yielded 20 songs, but their release was delayed by the Covid pandemic. The first taste of this new work landed in late 2020 as THE MAKARRATA PROJECT – a mini-album featuring some of Australia’s finest First Nations musicians, and based on the themes of reconciliation, justice and truth-telling written in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
It debuted at #1 in the band’s homeland on the same weekend that Bones passed away and went on to be nominated for five ARIA Awards. Lead single ‘Gadigal Land’ (feat. Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs and Bunna Lawrie) received the prestigious APRA Song Of The Year.
From the northern beaches of Sydney to the streets of Manhattan, Midnight Oil has stopped traffic, inflamed passions, inspired fans, challenged the concepts of “business as usual” and broken new ground. In 2017 the band returned from a 15-year hiatus for their Great Circle World Tour that encompassed 77 shows in 16 countries.
The extraordinary audience and critical response to those shows lead to more European dates and an Australian outback gig in 2019 which then flowed into the recording sessions where RESIST was created. The album’s much anticipated release will therefore literally close the circle on this chapter of a truly extraordinary career.
The band also announced that this will be their final concert tour while making it clear that this does not mean the end of the Oils. Each of the members will continue their own projects over the years ahead.
They remain very open to recording new music together in future and supporting causes in which they believe, but this will be their last tour. It will see them performing classic Midnight Oil songs from across their repertoire while also showcasing some urgent new works.
In the wake of last months acclaimed Tasmanian gigs, Midnight Oil also unveiled the full line up for each show of their imminent mainland tour, kicking off with sold out gigs in Newcastle and Wollongong next week.
The dates will feature a broad palate of Australian sounds, from buzzing pub punks, Amyl & The Sniffers through the young surf rock of Darwin’s King Stingray to the mighty Hoodoo Gurus just as they launch their new album.
Acclaimed singer/songwriters Jack River, William Crighton, Emily Wurramara, Stephen Pigram and Busby Marou will also appear, as will “Best Blues & Roots” ARIA winners, All Our Exes Live In Texas. Plus, the tour will feature a handful of rare reunion appearances by fellow 1980’s trailblazers, Goanna. Head HERE for tickets.
“If Resist is the end of the road for Midnight Oil, it’s one to treasure. “All that I have now is a souvenir of you,” Garrett notes in the Jim Moginie gem ‘Tarkine’. But there’s no doubt we still need them. As Garrett asks in the final track, ‘Last Frontier’: “Who fixes the messes that we keep making?” STACK
“If the first concert of Midnight Oil’s last tour was indicative of the 18 dates to follow, the Sydney-born band is fighting against the laws of rock ’n’ roll nature by going out on top… If you can, go.” The Australian
“Farewell tours often have one eye on the past and the other on the cash register – but if Midnight Oil’s show in Launceston on Sunday was any indication, they’re not coasting to the finish line.” The Guardian
“Midnight Oil’s farewell lap, to mark a new album, and preserve the legacy of their blistering live shows, was never going to be reflective and dewy-eyed.” Herald Sun
TICKETING INFORMATION
MIDNIGHT OIL PRE-SALE
**Fan pre-sale information for North America & European dates will be sent out via email newsletter at 7pm AEDT on Monday 28 February**
Sign up to www.midnightoil.com/newsletter to get access to pre-sale tickets.
Pre-sale runs 24 hours from: Tuesday 1 March for all North America & European dates except for the following shows:
Berlin Zitadelle, Berlin
Leipzig Parkbühne, Leipzig
L’Olympia, Paris
Camden Roundhouse, London
ALL pre-sale / on-sale dates and times are listed, below.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Patrons are advised to purchase tickets only through authorised ticket sellers. We cannot guarantee any ticket purchase made through any means other than the official ticketing agents listed below OR on midnightoil.com/tour.
NORTH AMERICA
Wednesday 1 June Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, BC
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
Saturday 4 June Fox Theater, Oakland, CA
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
Tuesday 7 June Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA
Fan pre-sale Tues: 1 Mar @ 10AM local
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local
Friday 10 June Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
Monday 13 June Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local
Thursday 16 June Roadrunner, Boston, MA
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
Sunday 19 June Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
Wednesday 22 June Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
Saturday 25 June The Theatre at National Harbor, Oxon Hill, MD
Fan pre-sale: Tues 1 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
EUROPE
Monday 4 July 2022 Berlin Zitadelle, Berlin, Germany
Pre-sale: On now
General public on-sale: Mon 28th Feb @ 10AM local time
PRE-SALE
Wednesday 6 July 2022 Leipzig Parkbühne, Leipzig, Germany
Pre-sale: On now
General public on-sale: Mon 28th Feb @ 10AM local time
PRE-SALE
Saturday 9 July 2022 Camden Roundhouse, London, UK
Roundhouse Member Pre-sale: Wed 2 Mar @ 10AM local time
General public on-sale: Fri 4 Mar @ 10AM local time
Tuesday 12 July 2022 L’OLYMPIA, Paris, France
General public on-sale: Mon 28 Feb @ 10am local time
TICKETS
