Powderfinger confirm reunion 16 years after breaking up
Australian rock band Powderfinger are getting the band back together for a reunion tour 16 years after they dismantled.
The band, widely regarded as one of Australia’s most beloved and celebrated musical groups, announced they will be reforming for “some shows around Australia from September next year” in a video posted to the band’s social media.
Australian rock band Powderfinger are getting back together for a reunion tour 16 years after breaking up. Instagram/@powderfinger_bandofficial
“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,” frontman Bernard Fanning said in the video.
“We’re going to build something pretty special just for you guys,” guitarist Darren Middleton chipped in. “We’ll see you from the stage.”
Fans and fellow musicians took to the comments to express their excitement and support.
“Guys I really feel like this could fix everything,” one fan wrote. “Aussie internet: broken. Happiness: slowly creeping back.”
Five Seconds of Summer band member and fellow Aussie Ashton Irwin also commented on the post, writing: “so excited!!!!!!!!!”
The caption of the post pointed to the band’s official website and told fans to set their alarm clocks for 6am on October 12, presumably the date more information about the tour will be made available.
The announcement comes just days after mysterious clues started popping up around the country, hinting at the band’s return.
The band is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most beloved and celebrated musical groups. Supplied
Digital billboards appeared in Sydney, Melbourne and the band’s hometown of Brisbane with a cipher that highlights words related to the band’s history, including “ALBUMS: 7”, “TOURS: 35″ and “FESTIVALS: 12”.
That hint came shortly after the official Powderfinger Instagram began following an account called @thereturnoftheelectrichorseman.
That is undoubtedly a reference to (Return of) The Electric Horseman, the final track on the band’s 1996 album Double Allergic, which turned 30 years old last month.
That account has shared photos of the billboards, writing: “I see your signs on the street now. Do you?”
The hints sent fan’s into a frenzy.
Powderfinger split after their final show in 2010.
Four of the band’s five members briefly reunited during a surprise set at Splendour in the Grass in 2017, and all five last reunited virtually during the pandemic for a charity concert in 2020.
Powderfinger formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their break-up in 2010, the line-up consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins and drummer Jon Coghill
In 2017, Fanning denied the band were getting back together.
“Doing that is completely different to making a record, or going on tour and also restarting something that we put to bed seven years ago,” he told Forte after their Splendour performance.
He clearly has changed his mind!
