Goth-rockers THE MISSION return to NZ for 30th Anniversary

Goth-rockers The Mission return to NZ for 30th Anniversary

Plus1 is delighted to announce legendary post-punk goths The Mission will perform two New Zealand shows as part of their 30th Anniversary tour this November.

Wayne Hussey says “It’s 26 years since the one and only time The Mission visited New Zealand. That’s an age and far too long. And we are going to rectify that situation by playing two shows later in the year, one in Auckland and one in Wellington.” The Mission (UK) will return to New Zealand for the first time since 1990 to perform in Wellington (Bodega) on Friday 18 November and Auckland (Powerstation) on Saturday 19 November, 2016.

Tickets for both shows are available from Ticketmaster.co.nz and AAATicketing.co.nz, via pre-sale from 9am Tuesday May 31. General sale starts Thursday 2 June. A limited number of VIP Experience packages will be available direct from themissionuk.com

Fans will appreciate the touring band still features three-quarters of the original line-up – Wayne Hussey, Craig Adams, Simon Hinkler – along with explosive new drummer, Mike Kelly.

The band’s memories of their last trip to New Zealand are hazy (they weren’t dubbed the kings of excess for nothing) but Hussey says of the 1990 tour “What I remember most about the show in 1990 was that we’d just played 3 shows in Mexico City and flew to NZ expecting our equipment to follow. But the local authorities in Mexico impounded our backline – amps, guitars, drums etc – so we had to play the show with completely borrowed equipment. We were all playing guitars we’d never played before, using guitar amps & fx we never even heard of before. And because our 4 track tape machine which we used to run the backing tracks for Butterfly On A Wheel and Tower Of Strength, two of our most popular songs, was also in Mexico we had to borrow a little beatbox and a keyboard and I remember trying to program the rhythms at soundcheck and we got one of our roadies to play the keyboards for us. It wasn’t our best ever gig but it was made memorable by the problems and the fact that, between us and the audience, we prevailed and a good time was ended up being had by all… I also remember we played a 5 a side football match the day before the show against the NZ rugby team. We were being brutalised and bullied and were 2-0 down at half time but came back to win 4-2 with yours truly scoring a second half hat-trick… One of my better days! It’d probably kill me now to chase a ball around, I much prefer to watch others doing the chasing.” 

Back in late 1985 Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams left The Sisters Of Mercy and formed The Mission and in early 1986 embarked on their first European tour, supporting The Cult. They released 2 singles independently, both reaching No.1 in the UK alternative charts, before signing a worldwide record deal with Phonogram (now Universal).

Their first single for the new label, Stay With Me, went straight into the UK chart at No. 30 followed by their debut album God’s Own Medicine at No. 14. Over the next eight years the band released six more albums and had a further 12 hit singles including anthemic classics such as Wasteland, Tower Of Strength, Beyond The Pale, Deliverance and Butterfly On A Wheel.

The Mission gained a hard-earned reputation as one of the best and most exciting live bands in the world,  winning countless accolades, with highlights like seven sold out consecutive shows at the Astoria Theatre in London, and twice headlining Reading Festival. Total worldwide album sales are now in excess of three million.

“The Mission have lost none of the passion and verve that had them rightly at the top of the live circuit tree.” Dom Daley – Uber Rock, June 2015

“Entering the darkened stage in a sea of dry ice, Wayne Hussey’s stage presence is a sight to behold. The sing-a-long from the crowd is obligatory but it’s also testament to how great The Mission have become. A truly magnificent performance.” Backseat Mafia, June 2015.

The tour is proudly presented by Plus1, 95bFM and Radio Active.

More information available from plus1.co.nz and themissionuk.com

“See you soon,” – Wayne Hussey