L to R: Ben Christo, Andrew Eldritch, Kai. Photo by Mick Burgess
Following their incredibly successful return to North America last year, post-punk legends The Sisters of Mercy are set to embark on a new 26-date tour this autumn. The iconic group will grace some of the continent’s most venerated stages, including New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, The Greek in Los Angeles, The Masonic in San Francisco, and Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom.
The tour marks a continuation of the band’s renewed presence in North America after a 14-year hiatus, which was celebrated with sold-out performances in major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle, that were packed wall to wall with fans dressed head to toe in black.
The band has recently formed a new lineup which has been praised by many as their strongest in years. Andrew Eldritch (vocals) is accompanied by Ben Christo (guitarist, backing vocals, bass), who has been playing with the band for almost two decades. Chris Catalyst, who was previously with TSOM from 2005 to 2019, is now back as the nurse for the ubiquitous Doktor Avalanche. Last but not least, is Kai, the band’s new guitarist and backing vocalist, who leads the British-Japanese rock and alternative metal group Esprit D’Air.
Joining The Sisters of Mercy on this tour will be Los Angeles synth-pop duo Blaqk Audio, a project consisting of Davey Havok and Jade Puget of AFI. Known for their masterful blend of electronica and ’80s synth-pop, Blaqk Audio’s inclusion on the tour promises to be a special treat for the Goths and New Wavers in the audience.
An iconic force in underground music for over 40 years, TSOM has defined, defied, and denied numerous subgenres of rock and roll for over four decades. Their mesmerizing blend of punk-psychedelia, metal, dance beats, and guttural growls has captivated several generations.
Formed in Leeds in 1980, TSOM, while named after a Leonard Cohen song, took inspiration from luminaries such as Bowie, Slade, and The Velvet Underground. But their closest sonic bedfellows are The Stooges, Motörhead, and Suicide, the influence of which imbued the band with a distinct sound of its own compared to others in the post-punk era.
In 1987, the album “Floodland” marked a major milestone for the band, featuring some of their most popular tracks such as “Dominion,” “Lucretia My Reflection,” and the lengthy masterpiece “This Corrosion,” which continue to be played on dance floors to this day. Their next album, “Vision Thing,” released in 1990, had a harder and more metal-influenced sound but still retained their characteristic drum machine pummel and lyrical ambiguity.
Shadiness in the industry in the 1990s left frontman Andrew Eldritch with a disdain for the record business. As a result, he shifted his focus to live performances rather than releasing recorded music. Despite not having released an album since “Vision Thing,” The Sisters of Mercy’s popularity and influence have only grown stronger over time, with their erudite rock and roll cacophony inspiring countless bands over the years.
The Sisters of Mercy’s 2024 North American tour kicks off on September 14th in Detroit, MI, at The Fillmore and includes performances in New York City at the illustrious Radio City Music Hall and Los Angeles at the famed Greek Theatre. Other major cities on the itinerary include San Francisco, where the band will play at The Masonic, and Chicago, with a night at the Aragon Ballroom. The tour will conclude at the HISTORY venue in Toronto, ON, on October 26th.
Tickets for the tour will be available starting Friday, May 10th, with presales beginning on Wednesday, May 8th and continuing through Thursday, May 9th.
The Sisters of Mercy 2024 North American Tour:
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