Nitzer Ebb has announced that their 2025 tour will go ahead as scheduled, despite the recent loss of their frontman, Douglas McCarthy.
McCarthy’s passing, which occurred on June 11 at the age of 58, was shared publicly by the band, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Originally, the band had revealed plans for a European tour, kicking off July 4, followed by additional dates in November and December. They have now confirmed that the tour will proceed, with the exception of the July 4 show.
In a statement released on June 21, the group mentioned their recent decision to withdraw from a festival appearance at Eastside, citing the timing as too soon in light of McCarthy’s passing. However, they stated that the rest of the tour commitments will continue as planned: “We feel it is the right path to honor these commitments and move forward with these shows.”
With McCarthy having stepped away from touring last year due to health issues, Vaughan “Bon” Harris will take on lead vocal duties for the upcoming performances. The band noted that Harris has previously filled in for McCarthy, and audience feedback for those shows has been overwhelmingly positive.
Nitzer Ebb also acknowledged that some long-time fans may feel conflicted attending shows without McCarthy and expressed their understanding and respect for those feelings. They emphasized their intention to honor McCarthy’s memory during the remaining performances.
Furthermore, the group revealed that they had been working on new music with McCarthy prior to his death and look forward to releasing that material in the future.
Nitzer Ebb, formed in 1982 by McCarthy and his school friends, Vaughan ‘Bon’ Harris and David Gooday, is known for blending post-punk sounds with electronic and industrial influences. They signed to Mute Records and released their debut album, That Total Age, in 1987.
Following McCarthy’s passing, numerous musicians, including Depeche Mode’s Alan Wilder and The Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman Billy Corgan, have paid tribute, highlighting his legacy as a dynamic performer and lyricist.
For more updates and details, you can read Nitzer Ebb’s complete statement.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment