It is with much sadness and disappointment that we must announce that the Zoot tour of Australia is cancelled.
Much has changed in the two years since we announced the tour, and individual members of the band, whilst excited about the potential offered by the tour, are now unfortunately not in a position whereby they can move forward with the tour as scheduled. Rather than postpone the tour yet again, the decision has been taken to cancel the tour and refund all ticketholders.
It may be that the tour can be rescheduled in the future, and if so, we will notify all of new dates.
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3 June 2021
In conjunction with the rescheduling of their forthcoming concert dates, ZOOT are very excited to announce their first new single in over 50 years.
Brisbane – The Fortitude Friday 7 October 2022
Sydney – Enmore Theatre Saturday 8 October 2022
Perth – Astor Theatre Wednesday 12 October 2022
Adelaide – Friday 14 October 2022
Melbourne – Saturday 15 October 2022
‘That Was Then’ was written by Beeb Birtles, Rick Springfield and Russell Morris and features all three, plus drummer Rick Brewer. Even the sadly departed Darryl Cotton makes a posthumous appearance in the intro to the song.
Beeb Birtles gives us some insight into the genesis of the song: “‘That Was Then’ is a song that takes us back to the heydays of ZOOT, as well as Russell Morris’s solo career. When the idea for writing a new ZOOT song was presented to Rick Springfield, Russell Morris and myself, I sent a chord progression that I’d been playing to Rick in Los Angeles. Rick ran with it and came up with a fantastic melody and chorus. Then it was sent to Russell in Australia who wrote the bridge for the song. So, it is truly a collaboration between all of us, and it turned out to be a really great new ZOOT song! Check it out!”
Rick Springfield adds, “Beeb’s acoustic track started me just vocally riffing around it and I realised after I’d come up with some lyrics and the chorus that this song was about Darryl and our (relatively) carefree days as young Zooties touring with Russell. Everyone knew each other and we were all friends. We had our disagreements but when we got on stage we were united. I’d look over at Dazza and Beeb and Malc and feel like it was us against them. I miss being young Ricky Springthorpe living at my parent’s house in Melbourne and thinking I had all the time in the world. Life moves on and we are here 50 years later with a song to celebrate Zoot and Russ’s early days when we were young and fearless.”
Russell Morris was thrilled to once again be able to team up with the guys from Zoot after so many years, “It was such a great joy working with my long-time friends. It was a little daunting, having to stand in Darryl Cotton’s formidable shoes, but ‘That Was Then’ is one of the lovely things I have had the pleasure of doing in the music business.”
With travel to Australia unlikely to be possible for Rick and Beeb, and the band cognisant of the need to put safety first, ZOOT have made the difficult decision to postpone their reformation concerts until 2022.