THE SAINTS ’73-’78 TAKE ON THE WORLD!
The Saints ’73-’78 celebrate 50 years since their first-ever shows this November with a month-long tour taking in New Zealand, USA, Canada, the UK, Sweden and Germany.
Outside Australian The original Saints only ever played the UK, two shows in The Netherlands and a single French show, while Australia itself was reduced to just Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. Australia has since been humbled by the explosion that is The Saints ’73-’78 while New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Sweden and Berlin bear witness to the joy for the very first time
“So… this was no tribute band… no hackneyed cabaret act. This was a band on fire. From the first few bars of opening song, This Perfect Day, through to the last drops of the chaotic frenzy that is Nights In Venice, The Saints pummelled our senses with 20 songs of jaw-dropping intensity” – Backseat Mafia
Having begun in 1973 as a three piece under the moniker Kid Galahad & The Eternals, it would take until late 1975 and the arrival of bassist Kym Bradshaw before the band would take on their more recognisable name and recognisable line-up: Ed Kuepper guitar, Chris Bailey vocals, Ivor Hay drums and Kym Bradshaw bass a/k/a The Saints. It was this line-up that would record the incendiary (I’m) Stranded 7” and album of the same name just a few months later and depart Australian shores for good in May ’77.
During their 12 month stay in the UK this same line-up of The Saints would produce their only charting single This Perfect Day plus the 1-2-3-4 ep before Bradshaw would leave replaced by teenager Algy Ward, the younger brother of Saints roadie Ian. Two more stunning LP’s Eternally Yours and Prehistoric Sounds would follow before the band would dissolve, breaking into factions and returning home minus the prize.
50 years later though, and with the sound of those three incredible albums continuing to resonate and find new fans, and on the back of the recently released (I’m) Stranded 4LP box set, surviving members Kuepper and Hay decide to reunite, recruiting like-minded musicians in Mick Harvey, Peter Oxley and Mark Arm – collectively of The Birthday Party / Bad Seeds, Sunnyboys and Mudhoney – with a sold out national tour playing the classics from those three albums and drawing in 12,000 people over 12 shows. The biggest shows the band have ever played.
“This wasn’t a tribute to the Saints … it was something else. It was eight guys on stage reaching for magic, devoted to the moment and delivering one of the greatest final furlongs I’ve seen in four decades of watching live music.” – Sean Sennett (Time Off)
“The towering impressions left by the nights proceedings? That Kuepper is a motherfucker of a guitar-player, his sound just as molten and unrelenting as back in the day”. – UNCUT
And joining The Saints ’73-’78 on all dates across the USA and UK are fast-rising Australia duo, Chimers. Recipients of numerous end-of-year ‘best of 2024’ album nods for their sophomore effort, Through Today. 10 tracks of laser-focused intensity that has seen them receive friends and favour from Henry Rollins to Built to Spill, Mudhoney to Mick Harvey! Indeed; Gerard Cosloy of Matador Records notoriety signed them to his 12XU label having witnessed them just the once.
“Illawarra-based two-piece Chimers tore up the second stage, bringing the sound and ferocity of a five-piece distilled into a guitar and drums duo. Tracks like their debut single off their 2021 album Surrounds showcase an ability to fabricate a wall of sound with just two bandmates.” – The Music
“The good news is they’re one of the best bands I’ve ever seen.” – Gerard Cosloy
Rounding out The Saints ’73-’78 on their November tour is a three-piece brass section featuring tenor and baritone sax plus trumpet and includes masters of their craft; Eamon Dilworth and Julien Wilson.
All tickets via feelpresents.com
“Rock music in the 70s was changed by three bands – the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and the Saints.” – Sir Bob Geldof
“Of all the places for one of the best bands to come from, it’s Brisbane, Australia. And they were doing it way before anybody else. They were playing live in like, ‘73. They were just an amazing band. Sort of like the Australian version of the Ramones but they didn’t look the part. I remember at the time thinking, those guys need to go to the barber. But that’s how shallow a lot of people were about bands at the time and they didn’t get the recognition they deserved. And I feel it was because of the way they looked. Never was a more punky record made but for some reason, well, for the reasons I’ve just said, they were criminally overlooked. I’d love to have seen them live, but never did.” – Jim Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain)
(I’m) Stranded is one of the hottest walking, incendiary, original rock albums ever recorded. This record is still as relevant to me now as it was back then.” – Henry Rollins
“A strong case could be made that thanks to this record — and its follow up Eternally Yours – that nobody did it as well as the Saints. I’m Stranded isn’t only essential punk history, it’s one of the best rock & roll albums period.” AllMusic
“If there is any punk rock better/hotter, it’s a short list.” The Big Takeover
“(I’m) Stranded remains the place to start when approaching the work of this important band. And this new box set represents the best way to embark upon that endeavor.” Goldmine
“It’s a refreshing blast of freon in today’s image-conscious, careerist era. The Saints recorded one of the best punk albums of all time a mere six months after the genre’s supposed origin. It’s about time the world knows it.” Spectrum Culture
“Magnificent.” SPIN