The Skids and Spear of Destiny announce tour dates
Iconic post-punk acts - The Skids and Spear of Destiny will be teaming up for an unmissable tour of the UK later this year.
A tour that will see both bands looking back to some of the most invigorating chapters of their careers, The Skids will be marking the 45th Anniversary of their seminal “Days In Europa” record; whereas Kirk Brandon and co will be revisiting classic 80s works “Outland” and “The Price You Pay”’ as part of their JANUS Tour.
The full list of shows for The Skids, with very special guests, Spear of Destiny are as follows:
THE SKIDS + SPEAR OF DESTINY
UK TOUR DATES
Wed 06 Nov - Bedford - Esquires
Thu 07 Nov - Hull - The Welly
Fri 08 Nov 2024 - Cardiff Students' Union - Y Plas, Cardiff
Sat 09 Nov 2024 - The Level, Nottingham
Sun 10 Nov - Huddersfield - The Parish
Weds 13 Nov - Carlisle - Old Fire Station
Thurs 14th Nov - Corby - Club House
Fri 15 Nov 2024 - 229, London
Sat 16 Nov 2024 - The Crossing, Birmingham
Sun 17 Nov - Reading - Sub89
Mon 18 Nov - Exeter - Phoenix
Thu 21 Nov 2024 - Wylam Brewery, Newcastle upon Tyne
Fri 22 Nov 2024 - Leeds Beckett Students Union, Leeds
Sat 23 Nov 2024 - Hangar 34, Liverpool
Sun 24 Nov - Manchester - Gorilla
Wed 4 Dec - Galashiels - MacArts
Thu 5 Dec - Dundee - The Church
Fri 06 Dec 2024 - The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
Sat 07 Dec 2024 - QMU, Glasgow
Sun 08 Dec - Aberdeen - Tunnels
Weds 11 Dec - Nuneaton - Queens Hall
Thu 12 Dec 2024 - Trinity Centre, Bristol
Fri 13 Dec 2024 - Engine Rooms, Southampton
Sat 14 Dec 2024 - Chalk, Brighton
Tickets on sale HERE.
Spear of Destiny will also be performing a short stretch of preliminary headline shows this September. Fixtures for these intimate shows are as follows:
SPEAR OF DESTINY - HEADLINE DATES
Tues 3rd Sept - The Crescent, York
Weds 4th Sept - King Tuts, Glasgow
Fri 6th Sept - Coimbra PT Luna Fest
Sat 7th Sept - Hat Factory, Luton
Tickets and details available HERE.
The Skids were at the heart of the punk scene in Scotland and took their music to London where they were signed by Virgin records. They made 4 albums and had numerous hit singles including Into the Valley, The Saints Are Coming, Masquerade and Working for the Yankee Dollar.
After the cover version of The Saints are Coming by U2 and Green Day the remaining band members reformed and played to large audiences all over the UK including iconic London venues such as The Albert Hall and The Roundhouse as well as Barrowlands in Glasgow. Their recently released album “Destination Dusseldorf” went to no.1 in the vinyl charts.
Reflecting on The Skids’ legacy and latest work Richard Jobson says:
“Memories fade but some linger for a reason. The Skids was the definitive part of my early life. A brilliant adventure into the world of creativity and adulthood. I was a kid when I joined the band in 1977 - 16 years old. By the time the adventure had run aground I was a dazed and confused young man. We were fearless in the beginning, always trying new things and not afraid to be different in a musical world that was beginning to sound very derivative and safe. Contrary to the reports from people who were never near the centre of the band, Stuart Adamson and I got on very well - in fact for a long time we were very close. I enjoyed writing with him - he was generous and incredibly adaptable to my unmusical ideas. The Skids were not just another punk band - we were creatively ambitious as well as being close to the core beliefs of our hard-won fans. But most importantly we loved playing live. Taking these memories and replanting them into 2017 has not been easy. How do you do it? How should it sound? Are we little more than a tribute band? These were the questions rattling around my head as I tried to find a way to celebrate the bands 40th anniversary last year. The answers ended up being very simple - Don’t over think it - Just do it. Enjoy every minute of it. Play the songs like it might be the last time. Give it everything. And then……. there’s the new stuff!!! The beginning of something new rather than the end of something old. Enter DESTINATION DUSSELDORF”
Hard to believe but it is true that Kirk Brandon has now been leading Spear of Destiny for over 40 years.
Spear of Destiny were formed in 1983 after the demise of Kirk Brandon’s post punk iconic rockers Theatre Of Hate. (Brandon had also, before TOH, been the main man in every punk rockers favourite band of that era The Pack).
The current line up of Spear of Destiny is the longest serving to date and features Adrian Portas (New Model Army / Sex Gang Children), Craig Adams (Sisters of Mercy / The Cult / The Mission) and Phil Martini (Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind) on drums. During 2019 the line up was boasted by Saxophonist Clive Osborne. Long time Brandon collaborator Steve Allen-Jones has completed the band line up on keyboards since 2022.
Post Pandemic has seen Spear of Destiny play some fabulous club shows and festivals including sell out shows at the iconic 100 Club in London, Manchester Ritz and Glasgow Oran Mor. SOD's performances at Sign of the Times, Rebellion and Kubix festivals have heralded fantastic reviews “Festival Stealing Dream set” wrote The Northern Echo.
Late 2024 will see Spear take to the road with long term friend Richard Jobson who will fronting a revitalised line up of the much loved Post Punk Heroes The Skids. This amazing line will be playing close to 30 shows across the UK in November and December 2024, NOT to be missed.
