Baz’s Antipodes tour diary March 2025

As the band head off Down Under for their eight shows in New Zealand & Australia, intrepid reporter Baz is kindly writing a daily blog to keep us up to date with events on the other side of the world. Over to Baz…

Travel day 9/3/25

And so, I find myself in a departure lounge waiting for JJ, 4 hours early. Flew down from Manchester this afternoon to Heathrow terminal 5, got a train across to terminal 3, and am now able to relax a bit before the first leg down to Dubai. I dont mind too much waiting around before trips like this… it’s better to be early than panicking about being late…been there done that…

We’ve only got an hour and 20 minutes changeover time when we get there, and if you’ve ever travelled through Dubai Airport, you know how fraught that can be…especially when the airport itself is about the size of Doncaster and super hectic… but we’ll do it… we always do.

Still, it’s not a lot of time…

There then follows the longest flight I’ve ever done, a 16 hour trek direct to Auckland. We usually drop in somewhere in Australia and change, but this time, it’s steady as she goes all the way.

I imagine none of us will be much use when we get there, but we’ve got a couple of days to attempt to rest up and at least half try to acclimatise, before the first show,which will be a big help.

There’s a lot of anticipation in the camp. We haven’t played since Luxembourg in October, and are very keen to get going.
A lot of travelling before we can do our thing though.
More news as I get it…

Auckland arrival 11/3/25

So we’re here, and all things considered, probably the most seamless journey we’ve had coming this way.

You sleep when you feel like it on trips like this. People will tell you to try and stay awake and all that blarney… but frankly that’s all cobblers…if you’re tired , go to sleep, and it’ll work itself out in a day or two. I know it’s sometimes easier said than done, but that’s the way it is. We’ve come over 11,000 miles in 2 days, and trying to cheat sleep,gain sleep, or pull the wool over the sandmans’ eyes is folly.

All that said, we board the first flight to Dubai, and at just under 7 hours, it’s a doddle. The next one is the killer, and we’re no sooner on board than I look across at JJ, and he’s making himself comfortable under his blanket. I’m the same, and don’t really wake up until here…

…somewhere over the Indian ocean.

JJ is awake too and gestures across ‘fancy a drink’?… so we do…in our fetching travelling Emirates slippers…

A coupla beers and a whisky or two later, and it’s a bit of dinner, then back under the covers, only waking up with the announcement that we’re getting close, and really ought to get our shit together.

It can be a bit of a palaver getting into New Zealand sometimes, and in the few times we’ve been here recently, it’s never been the same procedure twice…there’s always something different.

This time, we glide through, despite having all the relevant paperwork, which isn’t even asked for… and before we know it, we’re welcomed by a beaming Gaz, who’s been in Australia the last couple of weeks with family, and who flew into Auckland a day or two ago.

We pile onto the bus, and by the time we get to the hotel, plans are hatched for a beer in the city and a meal before attempting to crash out. Everyone is different… some will sleep, some won’t… but we’ll get there.

Show day-The Powerstation, Auckland 14/3/25

We last played The Powerstation 3 tours ago down here, and walking in for soundcheck, it all comes back. Great little club, packed to the rafters, and a healthy smattering of Brits down the front who, once again, have surpassed themselves, and travelled halfway across the world to show their support for us…it would be an understatement to say we appreciate it.

As always, we’re gobsmacked…thank you people…you know who you are.

We play pretty well for the first show, all aware of the errors made for a first outing since October, but we’re all in good spirits afterwards, and have a glass of fine Kiwi red to celebrate.

On a personal note, it’s lovely to catch up with some very old friends from years gone by, and all in all, we’re satisfied.

It can, and will, only get better.

(pic Gary Knighton)

Wellington & Christchurch gigs 16/3/25

Wellington. One of my brothers has lived here for nearly 10 years now, so I’ve spent quite a bit of time here…usually tying it in with Stranglers tours. It’s a beautiful city in a delightful location, and it’s absolutely bouncing…especially at weekends.

We get here on Friday afternoon, the day after the Auckland gig,and make plans to go out for dinner with our kid and his girlfriend, and have one of the best fish dinners ever…thank you Shed 5!

The next day, Saturday, is a show day, with all of the usual stuff of eating in plenty of time, soundchecking, and resting. We’re all pretty acclimatised now, so it’s a chilled couple of hours, then down for the show at the Meow Nui (yeah..I know….strange name), and what a fantastic place it is…a converted church with  quite a low stage, and we’re right in the thick of it…Great! We play exceptionally well, and the dressing room afterwards is a happy place…we’ve ironed out the wrinkles of the Auckland gig and are really firing now.

Sunday sees us flying down to the the South Island for the 3rd and last Kiwi gig in Christchurch, at the Town Hall. We played here the last time we were in the city, in a different room, so we recognise the building, but not the hall…weird.

There’s been a real flight cock up with the crew, who were due to fly in earlier than us today, but due to engine failure, their plane never leaves the ground (thankfully), and they end up getting into Christchurch after we do, go straight to the show, set up, and as it’s an 8 o’clock show, we don’t soundcheck, and they don’t have to wait too long for us to turn up and play.

It’s an all seater theatre this place, and it takes us a little while to get into the swing of things, but it turns out to be another great gig…the front being full of travelling Brits,and Kiwis who refuse to sit down…God bless ’em…and by the end, it’s another sweaty triumph.

This is our last show in New Zealand…we’re flying to Sydney tomorrow.

I’ll stick my neck out here… it’s one of our favourite places to play… The people, venues, culture, and general laid back, beautiful approach to life is intoxicating, and if you’ve never been…I would urge you to at least try.

Oh man… I’d love to think we could come back here and play again… at least one more tour…

Who knows…

Day off – Sydney 17/3/25

Sydney, Australia. Easy flight…a bit bumpy at times it has to be said, but worth it for the views at the other end. I looked out of the window on our descent, and was greeted by this…unbelievable.

It was bittersweet leaving New Zealand…hoping that we’ll make it back there one day…everything permitting, but it’s nice to be back in Australia again.

We’ve got a couple of days here to rest, then a pretty hectic schedule of 5 shows in 7 days…flying to 2 of them on the same day as the gigs themselves.

Factoring in time differences for them is always heavy too…have a look online to see how Aussie time zones work if you can be bothered… it’s always amusing… one of them is only half an hour… go figure.

But that’s why we’re here. I’m not complaining… it’s a privilege.

Bed beckons…

Show day – Enmore Theatre, Sydney 19/3/25

Just come off stage in Sydney at the Enmore Theatre. We first played here with Blondie in 2012, and little has changed… it’s a beautiful old theatre in the heart of bohemian Enmore, a funky Sydney suburb. I’ve written about it before and we’ve headlined here since the Blondie tour so it’s good to be back. It’s a sell out and bouncing when we take the stage.

Considering we had a party to go to yesterday, where things got reasonably messy, we’re all in fine form and go through the gears smoothly and purposefully.

We all, including JJ, who doesn’t usually, had a wee bit too much of the amber nectar yesterday, but 10 minutes into the show and we’re in the room.

Superb venue and great crowd…

For a Wednesday night, we couldn’t really ask for more.

Show day – Melbourne 22/3/25

So here we are in maybe my favourite Australian city, Melbourne.

We flew in yesterday, the day after another great show at the legendary Tivoli in Brisbane, a venue we’ve been playing for over 20 years,the first time in 2004 when we were a 5 piece. It looks exactly the same as it always does, and is bursting at the seams when we take to the stage. Again,we play really well,tight and punchy, and the crowd is well up for some banter.

There’s a ‘fun’ moment when I find myself somewhat ‘attached’ to the microphone stand, which my bass playing colleague doesn’t let me get away with…(of course he doesn’t…I wouldn’t either), and it’s brought to the attention of the room. Cheers for that…

I won’t explain here, but if you were there, you know what I’m talking about.

Embarrassing, but hey, whatcha gonna do?!

After a cramped flight across from Brisbane to Melbourne, we all convene for drinks in the bar, as is our custom, and before we know it, we’re out to a Greek restaurant we’ve eaten at before. Melbourne has the 2nd largest population of Greek folk in the world…more than Thessaloniki we’re led to believe…startling.

We eat heartily and are back in the sanctity of our rooms in reasonable time…lovely.

As I write this, it’s 9am on Saturday morning, and we’re playing the famous old Forum in town tonight…always a great time… done it before. We’ve played a lot of different venues in Melbourne over the years, including a really sleazy little club that none of us can remember the name of,during a tour night off on the Blondie tour in 2012…I think I wrote about it at the time. Whatever. It’s always a great time here and looking forward to the show tonight.

Laters

Show day part 2 – The Forum, Melbourne 23/3/25

After a lay in and a bit of Chinese food for lunch, we had across to The Forum for soundcheck. It’s strange how things come flooding back to you the moment you see them, and the moment we pull up outside the venue, step inside, and see the hall, it’s there. This place had a reputation as one of, if not the best, venue in Melbourne…a city that has many. I think we’ve played, if memory serves, 5 different ones over the years, including this one… this place likes it’s music…rock and roll town.

The soundcheck goes well and we stand taking in the view as we play…a very grand room with booths at the back for table service…swish.

There are statues all around too,and JJ takes a moment to thank a particularly pompous and grand one, bare chested with roman robes and typical sweeping gesture with the arms outstretched, surveying all before him…”thanks to Elon Musk for making an appearance tonight”…gets a huge laugh. I make a mental note to let the folk sitting in them this evening get some good natured stick…always a joy.

We’re very well into our stride now…this being the sixth show, and we play with confidence and power. The roar at the end of the night is deafening, and we soak it up, loving every minute, which is surely the point…

The moment that stops, we will, and we still love this far too much…

Thanks to the good folk of Melbourne for making us feel so welcome, and my announcement at the beginning of the show of it being our favourite Australian city very much stands. It holds a particular soft spot for me too, as it’s the first Antipodean city I personally ever played in with the band, way back in 2004.

Hope we come back one day…

Show day – The Gov, Adelaide 24/3/25

Here we are in sunny Adelaide…a city that we’ve again, played quite a few times. The Gov is an award winning venue that most folk who know the music scene in this country will tell you is one of their favourite venues. It’s really just a big pub that somehow they can shoe horn 800 people into and the vibe is electric.

The backstage area is tiny and the stage is a small semi circular affair with not masses of room to move. The crowd surround it, are right on top of you, and it’s great…proper back to basics stuff. We haven’t sound checked today, as we’ve only flown in from Melbourne a few hours before. The crew came in on an earlier flight, and are ready and waiting for us, as always, and we hit the stage promptly at 9 o’clock.  The place is full to the gunnels, and we steam straight into it.

I’ve spoken before about gigs that go by in the blink of an eye, and this is one of them.  We no sooner start, and then all of sudden I look down at the set list, and realise we’re two thirds of the way through.

We have a laugh tonight too, and there’s plenty of banter and jollity in the room. Great.

Winding up with Go Buddy Go and No More Heroes, we’re back in the dressing room…or cupboard really, and it’s the traditional Aussie after show meal of meat pies and cold beer…had to be.

We’ve got a few folk who’ve come back to say hello, including some very old friends of JJ’s, who go all the way back to his primary school days and he’s very happy to see them.

We also get a lovely note from Bob Geldof, who’s in town for a spoken word show, and who came down to see the gig, unbeknownst to us. He’s very complimentary, and says he’d have liked to come back and say hello, but as there were a lot of folk hanging around, he beat a hasty retreat. Still, it was nice to know he’d made the effort, enjoyed the show, and thought to let us know. Nice one.

It’s late when we finally leave the building, and we’ve got an early start to fly to Perth, for the last show of the tour.

My bed has never looked so sweet.

Show day  – Astor Theatre, Perth 25/3/25

And so, after a 3 and a half hour flight from Adelaide, we’re slowly getting closer to home and land in Perth, Western Australia, gaining 2 and a half hours…I know…don’t try to work it out… it’ll fuck with your head…even Aussies don’t really understand it.

When we touch down in Perth, it’s 40 degrees… no… not a typo…40 bloody degrees. I think we’ve all experienced that feeling when you fly out on holiday, collect your luggage, the airport doors open and you step out into tropicana…it hits you like a slap in the mush…

Well, here we are…

We get to a very nice hotel that we’ve stayed in before, have a nice meal and a relatively quiet night…thanks to some very nice cognac…

The next day (today as I’m writing this, try to keep up) is a gig day, but is also, as has been the case many times over the years, my birthday. I think at last count, I’ve had 12 birthdays out of my 25 years in the band, on the road… but never one so far away from home. For the folk that waited outside in the wilting heat, just to give me presents, cards (and cake)…thank you so much…you crazy kids…ha…

The Astor Theatre in Perth is a lovely art deco style venue and this is the 3rd time we’ve played here. We didn’t get to do it last time out here in Australia, so anticipation is high and the gig sold out months ago. The last time we played here, we still had Dave…and that’s a thought not lost on us.

As can sometimes be the case, and don’t ask me why, the final gig of the tour is often a bit fraught…daft as it may sound. We’ve been very consistent all through the tour but tonight, for some reason, there are gremlins.

Toby’s keyboards are hired in especially for this show and they’re not behaving…he’s having problems…and it pisses him off..being the perfectionist he is. I mess up at the beginning of ‘Grip’ too and, coupled with the extreme heat in the venue causing tuning issues for me, we’re off to a patchy start. It takes a wee while to get back on track and, about halfway through, we sort of click back in and it’s great to the end…funny how that works sometimes.

By the time we finish, we’re all dripping wet and it’s a great and fitting end to the best tour down here for a good while.

As an aside, and maybe a strange one to you folks, JJ has reached out through contacts and invited a hero of all of ours who lives down here to the gig tonight…Hank Marvin. Surely all guitarists are indebted in some way to Hank, subconsciously or not, and his twang, tones and beautiful lyrical guitar style has had an influence on so many guitar players over the decades…and The Stranglers are not immune.

Listen to ‘Toiler/ Relentless/ Time to Die/ Freedom is Insane’ and others and you’ll hear Hanks influence…the man is a maestro.

Anyway, he has other engagements and can’t make it but he sends a lovely email to us saying how much he’d have loved to have come to the show. The fan boy in me, and JJ, would’ve loved to meet him and what a lovely end it would’ve been to the tour… but sadly it was not to be…

Maybe next time…

Post tour debrief – Perth 26/3/25

What a marvellous tour this has been.

Again, all too brief, but you never know, we may be back.

As always, we’re indebted to our road crew… you know how we feel about them…love their very bones…

Louie Nicastro, Luke Welch, Brendan Riley, Joe Noonan, Dave Hall and our indispensable tour manager Gary Knighton.

Nothing happens without any of these guys…and we owe how we roll to them.

Thanks boys, as always…

Also, the runners, drivers and local crews who all played their part in keeping the whole thing alive…like fucking clockwork…thanks everyone.

And, lastly, to the handful of loyal British fans (& 1 ex-pat) who did the entire tour. All the travelling, planning and cost that you guys put into this doesn’t go unnoticed…

It’s very much appreciated…but I’d like to think you know that anyway…

You know who you are…

Oh man…parting is such sweet sorrow.

‘Til the next time…

Signing off

Baz x

Thanks as always go to Baz for his regular blogs from the other side of the world… 

Thanks also go to Toby, Gaz, Louie, John D & Charlie B for the use of their photos in this blog.