In the pantheon of unsearchable band names, The The undoubtedly have to come out on top. Sure, you could spend a few minutes looking for groups like Friends, About, and Girls Names, but The The probably have them all beat. Nevertheless, the Internet is about to have an influx of searches for the group, with the band announcing their first live shows since 2002.
As Spin notes, The The have today announced a tour of Europe and North America, which will see them visit Denmark, England, America, and Canada between June and September.
Having first formed in 1979 as a solo project for Matt Johnson, The The recorded a total of six albums between 1983 and 2000, but since then, it’s been rather quiet for Johnson, who has been noted as the only member of the group since 2002.
While the band have frequently switched and shifted their lineup over the years, bringing in guest musicians and collaborators as needed, including members of The Smiths, New York Dolls, Throbbing Gristle, and more, it seems as though Johnson has quite a few surprises for fans on this upcoming tour.
“All I can say for now is that I have chosen one musician from each of the three band line-ups from my three world tours,” Matt Johnson said of the upcoming tour. “Plus, there will be one new face. Stay tuned!”
Likewise, Johnson has also confirmed that there will be a new album on the way from the group, which will mark their first album since 2000’s NakedSelf, and first piece of new material since last year’s Record Store Day.
“I’m feeling inspired and have already started writing it,” Johnson said of the new record. “I’m hoping to begin recording sessions later this year but this all depends on our touring schedule.”
The The saw the majority of their commercial success during ’80s and early ’90s, with three of their first four albums reaching the top 50 of the Australian charts. The group were also notable for having their song ‘Uncertain Smile’ reach #3, #4, and #13 on the first three Hottest 100 Of All Time countdowns by triple j between 1989 and 1991.
At this stage, there are no Australian dates on the horizon, but if it does seem as though The The are about to embark on a new period of activity, there’s no ruling out an eventual Aussie tour at some point.
Check out The The’s ‘Uncertain Smile’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir1PBrUQYCw
