It’s a big day for Hoodoo Gurus fans! Alongside the announcement that the band will be hitting the road in celebration of their 40th Anniversary since their first live show back in 1981, come the release of the brand new single ‘World of Pain’.
“‘World Of Pain’ is a combination of glitzy glam rock and dirty barroom blues. It has a swagger and a cocky attitude, although the song’s narrator is clearly having a very bad night. The poor sap – he thinks he’s having fun!” said frontman and songwriter Dave Faulkner.
“‘World Of Pain’ is a slightly fictionalised story about the aftermath of a big night on the town that got way too big. I’ve personally lived out everything described in the song (I’m not proud of that fact). Luckily for me, the events described in the lyrics didn’t occur in exactly this order or over the one night. Nevertheless, it’s all true. Oh, and before you ask, the answer is: yes, I have been punched in the face in a nightclub when I was a bit drunk one night” he continued.
‘World of Pain’ is the fourth single release from the band over the last couple of years following 2019’s ‘Answered Prayers’ and 2020’s anti Trump anthem ‘Hung Out To Dry’ as well as the song to all the non-conformists ‘Get Out of Dodge’. The Gurus also let out another nugget for fans today by announcing they will have a new album in time for the tour.
It is Hoodoo Gurus evocative and relatable lyricism, peerless song writing – with a hint of punk attitude – placed in a distinctively Australian context that has provided a careful balance of critical success and enduring mainstream appeal for 40 years.
Since their formation in 1981, Hoodoo Gurus’ boast 9 x ARIA Top 20 albums, 9 x ARIA Top 40 singles and a swag of multi-platinum albums – they’re mainstays on the live scene, and perpetually influential to a new generation of artists.
The Gurus kick off their 40th Anniversary Tour, along with The Dandy Warhols at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Wednesday 1 December, before heading to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday 3 December. Next up is Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Saturday 4 December, before they head across to Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre on Thursday 9 December, and close out the tour at Perth at the Belvoir Homestead & Amphitheatre on Saturday December 11.
“We are thrilled to be going around Australia to play for our fans again. Even better, we are honoured to be accompanied by our admirable friends, The Dandy Warhols from the US. Between the two of us, there are gonna be plenty of opportunities for crowd singalongs, and after the turmoil of the last year and a half, that’s gonna be incredibly therapeutic for everyone. You can be certain that both of our bands will be fired up and rarin’ to go.”
‘…Dave Faulkner’s crunching surf guitar riff took us straight back to the heaving beer barns of the 1980s in which the Gurus made their name. …Rick Grossman’s roiling bass, Brad Shepherd’s fanging rhythm guitar and Nik Rieth’s martial drumming kicked in… a tribute to the Gurus’ tightness, showmanship and sheer number of well-known tunes.’ – Sydney Morning Herald 2020