Powderfinger confirm reunion 16 years after breaking up
All five original members of alternative rock icons Powderfinger are reuniting for a series of concerts across Australia, kicking off in September.
- Headline: Powderfinger confirm reunion 16 years after breaking up
- Dispatch Summary: All five original members of alternative rock icons Powderfinger are reuniting for a series of concerts across Australia, kicking off in September.
- Verification: Corroborated across independent reporting outlets with primary sources and real-time wire transmissions.
Fans across Australia are preparing to dust off their old concert tees and secure tickets for a major homecoming, as alternative rock icons Powderfinger officially confirm they are getting back together 16 years after dismantling their lineup. The Brisbane group announced on October 9 that all five original members will return to the stage for a series of concerts across the country, scheduled to kick off in September next year. For a dedicated following that last watched the band bid farewell during their Sunsets tour in November 2010, the news marks the end of more than a decade of hoping for a full-scale return.
That announcement brings an immediate scramble for ticket details, prompting the band’s team to direct supporters to their official website and social media channels to set alarm clocks for 6am on October 12, when further tour information will be released. Members of the public looking to secure their place can expect a fierce demand, echoing the massive scale of the band's historic 2010 farewell run, which saw them sell more than 200,000 tickets across 34 shows before wrapping up with an emotional 20-song set at Brisbane’s Riverstage.
Why are they getting back together now?
The reunion comes after a week of intense speculation sparked by mysterious digital billboards in Sydney, Melbourne, and the band’s hometown of Brisbane. Those displays featured opaque ciphers and numerical clues highlighting milestones from the group's history, including ALBUMS: 7 and FESTIVALS: 12, alongside varying figures reported across regional press such as TOURS: 35 in some tallies and FLIGHTS: 33 with a CREW: 235 count in others.
Internet sleuths quickly connected those projections to a new social media presence under the handle @thereturnoftheelectrichorseman. The account name directly references (Return of) The Electric Horseman, the final track on Powderfinger’s 1996 breakthrough album Double Allergic, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last month. The band’s official Instagram account eventually followed the mysterious page, which featured five horse emojis in its bio representing vocalists, guitarists, and percussionists alike.
We always said that, if we were going to get back together to do some shows, that you guys would be the first to know, and so now you’re the first to know.
Bernard Fanning, via Nine.com.au
In a video posted to social media on October 9, frontman Bernard Fanning addressed the rumors directly alongside bandmates Darren Middleton, Ian Haug, John Collins, and Jon Coghill. Guitarist Darren Middleton added in the clip, We’re going to build something pretty special just for you guys. We’ll see you from the stage.
An email from the band's team thanked fans, noting, Through the big nights, the quiet years, and everything in between, you kept the songs going.
Who is in the lineup and what is their history?
Formed in Brisbane in 1989, the group spent their early years building a local following before 1996's Double Allergic brought national acclaim. By the release of 2000's Odyssey Number Five, which peaked at the top of the charts and won six ARIA awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for My Happiness, they stood among the country's most celebrated musical acts. They are a decorated presence in the triple j Hottest 100, winning the 1999 and 2000 countdowns, making the annual polls 22 times, and landing three entries in the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
The definitive lineup spanning from 1992 until their 2010 break-up unites lead vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins, and drummer Jon Coghill. Prior to this announcement, the members had only reunited twice in partial or virtual formats: four members played a surprise set at Splendour in the Grass in 2017, while all five gathered remotely in May 2020 for the One Night Lonely livestream, which raised more than $450,000 according to ABC News (AU), and upwards of $500,000 according to The Music, distributed to Support Act and Beyond Blue. At the time of that pandemic charity performance, the band stressed that the appearance was strictly a one-off.
What does this mean for the wider Australian music scene?
The return of Powderfinger arrives just a week after fellow Australian legacy act Silverchair addressed public calls for their own reunion ahead of the NRL grand final. Dispelling those hopes, Silverchair issued a statement via ABC News (AU) declaring, Thanks to everyone who's asked if we're playing before the game. We're way too rusty, so sorry, no can do.
Fans and fellow musicians immediately flooded social media with reactions, with Five Seconds of Summer member Ashton Irwin writing, so excited!!!!!!!!!
on Instagram. Another fan captured the broader public mood on the band's comments section, writing, Guys I really feel like this could fix everything. Aussie internet: broken. Happiness: slowly creeping back.
