The Living End are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, which came out in October 1998. The album – which sprouted the singles ‘Second Solution’, ‘Prisoner of Society’, ‘Save the Day’, ‘All Torn Down’ and ‘West End Riot’ – debuted at number one on the ARIA albums chart. It has gone on to receive four-times platinum accreditation.
Founding members Chris Cheney and Scott Owen as well as long-time drummer Andy Strachan will raise a toast to the album on its quarter-century birthday with a show at Festival Hall, Melbourne, on Saturday, 4th November. They’ll be supported on the night by rising indie pop band The Belair Lips Bombs and their late-90s contemporaries, punk-ska band Area-7.
The Belair Lip Bombs – ‘Look The Part’
The Belair Lips Bombs released their debut album Lush Life in August 2023 via Melbourne indie label C.W. Records. The band have a busy few months ahead, appearing at OK Motels, Tent Pole, ALWAYS LIVE and Golden Plains.
Area-7 haven’t released any new music since their fourth album, Torn Apart, in 2005. The band’s breakout moment was 2000’s Bitter & Twisted, which came out via Zomba Records (the same label as Britney Spears) and included the singles ‘Second Class Citizen’ and ‘Himbo.
As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations, The Living End was reissued on vinyl and CD in early October. The reissue comes with a 32-page booklet featuring new liner notes from Cheney and plenty of contemporaneous photos. The CD and double-LP versions also include a 10-track live recording from 1998, originally captured for triple j’s Live At The Wireless program.
The Living End 25th Anniversary Celebration
w/ Area-7, The Belair Lip Bombs
- Saturday, 4th November – Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Tickets on sale via Ticketmaster
Further Reading
The Living End to Celebrate 25 Years of Their Debut Album with One-Off Melbourne Show
The Peep Tempel Are Getting Back Together to Headline OK Motels 2024
A Guide to Every Australian Music Festival Happening in 2023/24
