The Stranglers have postponed tonight’s tour-opening concert in Detroit after visa trouble delayed the U.K. punk legends’ entry into the United States, but the band says it hopes to make up the date on a proposed second leg of its North American tour this September.
The band — singer-bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel, drummer Jet Black and keyboard player Dave Greenfield, plus former Toy Dolls guitarist Baz Warne — reports that the members’ U.S. visas are expected to arrive today, but not in time to “meet the deadline to enable the Detroit show to proceed.” The tour now will open Friday night in Toronto, where the band has been since Tuesday waiting for its paperwork.
The tour, in support of this week’s belated North American release of the band’s 2012 album Giants, continues through Montreal, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Long Beach, Calif. Details of the band’s proposed September leg have not been released.
See dates and read the band’s statement on the tour’s delay below.
The Stranglers North American tour dates:
May 30: Majestic, Detroit, MI
May 31: Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON
June 1: Telus Theatre, Montreal, QC
June 3: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
June 4: Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA
June 5: Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
June 7: Cobra Lounge, Chicago, IL
June 8: Cobra Lounge, Chicago, IL
June 9: Iron & Ink Festival, Long Beach, CA
The Stranglers on their tour’s delay:
The Detroit show for tonight has unfortunately had to be postponed until September. The band have been in Toronto since Tuesday awaiting vital work visa approvals from the US Embassy who have failed to meet the deadline to enable the Detroit show to proceed. The band’s visas were finally approved this morning and will be on their way to the band later today but it is with deep regret that they will arrive to late for the band to enter the US and perform tonight’s Detroit show. The band’s management have been in negotiations to try and add the show at the end of the tour but there is not the availability so the venue and band have decided to return to Detroit on the proposed second leg of the tour in September. We apologise to the fans who have bought tickets and VIP packages and have waited 20 years to see the band but this situation was completely out of our control. The band will continue the tour in Toronto tomorrow as planned and the rest of the tour will be unaffected.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- The Stranglers reissuing ‘The Old Testament’ box set with added disc of rarities
- The Stranglers set U.S. release for ‘Giants,’ plus North American tour — stream new track
- The Godfathers announce new album ‘Jukebox Fury,’ U.K. tour with The Stranglers
- Stream: The Stranglers, ‘Time Was Once On My Side’ — off forthcoming album ‘Giants’
- Ex-Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell touring U.S., South America, U.K. this spring
Nice oxygen, Jet
I hope he’s well!