Skids Announce Debut New Zealand Shows - 45th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour

Scotland's Skids are making their New Zealand live debut in May 2024, making up for lost time in a major way with 45th anniversary greatest hits events at Wellington's San Fran and Auckland's Galatos [new venue]. Formed in 1977, the Dunfermline punk / new wave group announced themselves with double-punch 1979 long players Scared To Dance and Days Tn Europa, achieving UK chart success with breakout anthems 'Into the Valley', 'Masquerade' and 'Working for the Yankee Dollar' — although it was 'The Saints Are Coming' that is likely their most famous song, collaboratively covered by rock juggernauts U2 and Green Day in 2006. Incredibly prolific during their legendary first phase, Skids released two more studio albums — The Absolute Game (1980, hailed as their high water mark) and Joy (1981) — before going on extended hiatus, reconvening for a two year spell in the late '00s, then fully back in action from 2016 onwards.

Featuring founding frontman Richard Jobson and bassist William Simpson, with longterm members Bruce Watson, Jamie Watson, and new recruit Nick Hernandez on drums. Celebrating their entirety of their career including new 2023 album Destination Düsseldorf, Skids will be supported for both local dates by Vorsen, led by Aotearoa post-punk pioneer John Halvorsen (The Gordons, Bailterspace) — who launched their sonically immense debut album A WORLD ON FIRE in September. Don't miss this titanic pairing at the following dates...

Skids - 45th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour
with special guests Vorsen

Tuesday 7th May – San Fran, Wellington
Wednesday 8th May – Galatos, Auckland [new venue]

Tickets on sale now at Plus1.co.nz

Here's Skids' rallying cry 'Into The Valley' from their 1979 debut album Scared To Dance...

Covered by UZ and Green Day (together) in 2006, hit play on Skids' anthem urgent 'The Saints Are Coming' from Scared To Dance...

Experience the vintage video for Skids' 'Working For The Yankee Dollar' from their 1979 sophomore album Days in Europa...

Press release:

Skids are Coming! For the first time ever, iconic Scottish punk band Skids will perform concerts in New Zealand, as part of their 45th Anniversary Greatest Hits Tour.

Fans in Auckland and Wellington can look forward to hearing Into the Valley, The Saints are Coming, Working for the Yankee Dollar, Masquerade, Sweet Suburbia and many more.

Opening both shows is Vorsen, the three-piece Wellington band based around the songs of John Halvorsen, who co-founded The Gordons, guitarist for Skeptics, and is a core member of Bailterspace. Vorsen recently released their acclaimed World On Fire album.

The Skids aren’t your archetypal 1-2-3-4 punk band – their unique sound is led by singer Richard Jobson’s strong and passionate voice, ensuring the band remain at the peak of their powers and still a mighty live force.

This tour celebrates the band’s legacy, with songs from early albums Scared To Dance, Days in Europra, The Absolute Game, and Joy – right through to this year’s acclaimed LP, Destination Dusseldorf.

The Skids were at the heart of the punk scene in Scotland and took their music to London where they were signed by Virgin, leading to hits like 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 band 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.