by Andre Paine, London |
May 21, 2009 2:37 EDT
Massive Attack
Massive Attack vocalist and musician Robert "3D" Del Naja has revealed plans for a huge world tour to support the release of their long-anticipated fifth album out in October via Virgin/EMI.
The British electronic act has already confirmed more than 40 dates in the U.K. and Europe, beginning with three shows at London's 5,000-capacity O2 Academy Brixton (Sept. 17-19). The U.K. shows are promoted by SJM.
Now Del Naja has confirmed the full extent of the tour to Billboard.com, which he says is likely to top 150 shows including U.S. dates.
"We'll do the U.K., Europe, then take Christmas off, and then go to Asia, into America and then we'll roll out to the festivals," he says. "When you get on a roll it's such a laugh. For Meltdown [Festival] last year we ended up doing about 40 shows all around eastern and southern Europe, it was really good fun. So I can imagine for this we'll end up doing maybe 150 gigs."
The band debuted new songs at their 2008 shows including the Meltdown Festival at London's Southbank Centre, which they curated and they were also part of the line-up. Other dates were added into the schedule once their Meltdown appearance had been confirmed.
He adds that while the U.K. is the first scheduled run of dates, the band will actually begin its tour in Mexico, although the dates are not confirmed. "It's going to be two festivals in Mexico, I think they might be new festivals," he tells Billboard.com. "The Latin American attitude will definitely ensure that it's going to be a laugh."
Massive Attack's last album "100th Window" was released in 2003 and their fifth set has been due at various stages in the last few years. The act has been working with artists including U.K. rock act Blur's frontman Damon Albarn, Guy Garvey of U.K. indie-rock band Elbow and Stephanie Dosen.
"The album is out in October and we're touring in September, so there will be a two-week discrepancy where we'll politely request the audience's attention while they hear some new songs that have been re-mastered," Del Naja says.
In fact, several new songs including "Red Light" and "All I Want" performed on tour last year were well received. "I think things are changing, I don't think people expect to hear an album they know and then go and hear it live, I think people are much more intelligent than that," comments Del Naja.
He confirmed that the album will be released by Virgin/EMI, but there is no confirmed title - although there was a slight hint that they have returned to an earlier, proposed title, "Weather Underground."
"We had a stage name for it, and we've given up on it, we've gone back," he says. "We always think of the name at the last minute, that way you haven't got to think about it or live with it."
Massive Attack's Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall collected the outstanding contribution to British music Ivor Novello award at a London ceremony today (May 21).
The British electronic act has already confirmed more than 40 dates in the U.K. and Europe, beginning with three shows at London's 5,000-capacity O2 Academy Brixton (Sept. 17-19). The U.K. shows are promoted by SJM.
Now Del Naja has confirmed the full extent of the tour to Billboard.com, which he says is likely to top 150 shows including U.S. dates.
"We'll do the U.K., Europe, then take Christmas off, and then go to Asia, into America and then we'll roll out to the festivals," he says. "When you get on a roll it's such a laugh. For Meltdown [Festival] last year we ended up doing about 40 shows all around eastern and southern Europe, it was really good fun. So I can imagine for this we'll end up doing maybe 150 gigs."
The band debuted new songs at their 2008 shows including the Meltdown Festival at London's Southbank Centre, which they curated and they were also part of the line-up. Other dates were added into the schedule once their Meltdown appearance had been confirmed.
He adds that while the U.K. is the first scheduled run of dates, the band will actually begin its tour in Mexico, although the dates are not confirmed. "It's going to be two festivals in Mexico, I think they might be new festivals," he tells Billboard.com. "The Latin American attitude will definitely ensure that it's going to be a laugh."
Massive Attack's last album "100th Window" was released in 2003 and their fifth set has been due at various stages in the last few years. The act has been working with artists including U.K. rock act Blur's frontman Damon Albarn, Guy Garvey of U.K. indie-rock band Elbow and Stephanie Dosen.
"The album is out in October and we're touring in September, so there will be a two-week discrepancy where we'll politely request the audience's attention while they hear some new songs that have been re-mastered," Del Naja says.
In fact, several new songs including "Red Light" and "All I Want" performed on tour last year were well received. "I think things are changing, I don't think people expect to hear an album they know and then go and hear it live, I think people are much more intelligent than that," comments Del Naja.
He confirmed that the album will be released by Virgin/EMI, but there is no confirmed title - although there was a slight hint that they have returned to an earlier, proposed title, "Weather Underground."
"We had a stage name for it, and we've given up on it, we've gone back," he says. "We always think of the name at the last minute, that way you haven't got to think about it or live with it."
Massive Attack's Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall collected the outstanding contribution to British music Ivor Novello award at a London ceremony today (May 21).
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