Massive Attack will return to Australia for the first time in 16 years, with shows confirmed in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in August. The British trip-hop group led by Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja and Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall last played Australia in 2010, making it a much-anticipated tour for fans of the genre.The announcement comes alongside the release of the band’s first new music in six years, a collaboration with Tom Waits called ‘Boots on the Ground’.
Who are Massive Attack?
Formed in Bristol in 1988, Massive Attack is widely recognized as a pioneer of the trip-hop genre, a sound built on hip-hop beats, soul samples, dub bass and atmospheric electronica. Their 1991 debut ‘Blue Lines’ remains one of the most influential albums of their era, and their catalog of five studio albums, including ‘Protection’, ‘Mezzanine’, ‘100th Window’ and ‘Heligoland’, has sold over 13 million copies worldwide. Their biggest hits are ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ and ‘Teardrop’.The group has also attracted considerable intrigue over the years, with internet pundits long speculating that Del Naja is secretly Bristol street artist Banksy, a theory fueled by overlaps between Massive Attack’s tour dates and the appearance of Banksy murals around the world. A recent investigation by Reuters suggested that Del Naja may be acting as Banksy’s location tracker.
Tickets and tour dates
Pre-sales for the Australian shows start on June 4th, with tickets going on sale June 5th. The tour is Massive Attack’s fourth visit to Australia and their most anticipated in a decade.
