Citing "unforeseen circumstances," Midnight Oil have backed out of a U.S. tour with fellow Down Under rockers INXS and Men at Work, scuttling the 22-date Great Australian Bite outing.
Men at Work frontman Colin Hay said Midnight Oil and INXS
apparently had some issues they couldn't resolve. "I'm actually surprised it got this far, to be honest," he said. "It didn't smell right from the start."
Spokespeople for INXS and Midnight Oil could not be reached for comment by press time.
The tour was to kick off May 28 in Atlanta and wrap up June 27 in Las Vegas.
"We are planning to return for a global tour — including U.S.A. and Europe and South America in October and November with different guests," a statement on MidnightOil.com said.
Midnight Oil, best known for their 1988 hit "Beds Are Burning," were to share the headlining spot with an INXS lineup featuring New Zealander Jon Stevens filling in for Michael Hutchence, who died in November 1997.
"INXS deeply regret and are sad to announce to all our loyal fans in North America that due to unforeseen circumstances, the proposed Great Australian Bite tour has been cancelled," the group said in a statement on INXS.com. "More information will be posted at a later date."
Tour or no, INXS fans will hear from the band when it issues the 42-song compilation Shine Like It Does (1979-1997) in June.
Meanwhile, Men at Work, who broke through in the States with the 1982 hit "Who Can It Be Now?," are down to just two original members — Hay and saxophonist Greg Ham. The duo don't have any plans to release new material under the Men at Work name anytime soon, Hay said.
Those left in the lurch by the Bite tour's cancellation can catch Hay when he hits the road Saturday in support of his sixth solo album, Going Somewhere, due in stores April 24. Hay said he will launch an extensive club tour this summer.
Colin Hay tour dates, according to his publicist:
- 4/21 - Agoura Hills, CA @ Canyon Theatre
- 4/26 - Orlando, FL @ Sapphire
- 4/27 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbit's
- 4/28 - Clearwater, FL @ Octagon Performing Arts Center
- 4/29 - Stuart, FL @ Lyric Theater
- 6/2 - Brea, CA @ St. Angela Marici School
- 7/3 - St. Paul, MN @ State Capitol Grounds
- 7/13 - Boston, MA @ Bull Run Dinner Theater
- 7/18 - Amagansett, NY @ Stephen Talkhouse
- 7/19 - New York, NY @ Makor Center
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