Legendary Australian band DIED PRETTY has today announced the cancellation, due to the illnesses of co-founder and frontman Ron S. Peno and longtime drummer Chris Welsh, of their long-awaited October theatre tour.
In a statement, the band has said, “With much regret we have to announce the cancellation of the upcoming October shows due to health issues of two members of the band. Ron’s cancer fight is ongoing and he has recently commenced further treatment that will make it impossible for him to perform in the near future.
Chris has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and his treatment schedule will also make it impossible for him to perform in the upcoming months. With both of them unavailable in October we are forced to accept the cancellation as a necessary action to insure their health and comfort.
Although this will be a major disappointment for many we know there will be understanding and that everyone will wish both Ron and Chris the best.
Ticketing agencies and/or venues will be in touch with all ticket holders to initiate refunds. Once again we are sorry to have to make this decision.”
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24 March 2023
40 years since playing their first shows, Sydney’s Died Pretty have, without warning, released their first live album, DIED PRETTY LIVE and simultaneously announced an October East Coast run of seated theatre shows.
DIED PRETTY ON TOUR IN OCTOBER 2023
Friday October 13th: Enmore Theatre – Sydney
Saturday 21st: Princess Theatre – Brisbane
Friday October 27th: National Theatre – Melbourne
Saturday October 28th: National Theatre – Melbourne
Died Pretty burst on to a burgeoning Sydney alternative scene in the early 80’s with a series of chaotic, passionate and intense live shows. Their highly regarded 1986 debut album Free Dirt established them internationally and they began touring Europe and America on a regular basis.
Over the following years, constant touring toughened their once erratic live performances as their constant flow of recordings expanded their musical territories. Their landmark album, 1991’s Doughboy Hollow, containing the singles ‘Godbless’, ‘D.C.’ and ‘Sweetheart’, achieved wide Australian chart success and is still frequently found in lists of the all-time top Australian albums.
Died Pretty officially disbanded as a full-time entity in 2002. Since then, the classic Doughboy Hollow line-up has occasionally reformed to play special event shows. They performed Doughboy Hollow for the Don’t Look Back classic album series in 2008, followed by Big Day Out performances in 2009 and then 2012’s Dig It Up festival. 2016 saw a Day On The Green run and 2017 a co-headline tour with Radio Birdman. In 2021 the band performed a triumphant series of club shows, rescheduled after they were forced to cancel 2019 appearances at A Day On The Green due to illness.
October 2023 will see the band perform a special run of theatre only shows with special guests Melbourne’s Underground Lovers. ARIA Award winning Underground Lovers have been on the cutting edge of Australian independent music since 1989. With a sound built on infectious melodies, motoric rhythms and jagged guitars, their post punk aesthetic and dynamic stage performances have seen them play with the likes of The Cure, New Order, My Bloody Valentine and Primal Scream.