NEWS
Nitzer Ebb have announced that their 2025 tour will be proceeding as scheduled despite the recent death of frontman Douglas McCarthy.
McCarthy’s death was announced by the band earlier this month (June 11) – he was 58 years old. A cause of death has yet to be revealed to the public.
In April, the band announced a European tour that was scheduled to kick off with one show on July 4, followed by a string of dates in November and December – Nitzer Ebb have now confirmed that the tour will go ahead, except for the July 4 gig.
Nitzer Ebb confirmed the news in a new statement published on Saturday (June 21): ‘As some of you may have heard by now, we have withdrawn from our recent festival appearance at Eastside in light of recent events as we feel that it is too soon to do so. However, the remaining shows booked through the end of this year and into 2026 will go on as advertised.”
They explained that the tour was booked with Vaughan “Bon” Harris taking on vocal duties after frontman Douglas McCarthy had stepped away from touring last year due to liver cirrhosis: “At the time of booking, these shows were confirmed on the provision that Douglas may not have been able to appear: whilst having Bon on lead vocals. We feel that it is the right path to honour these commitments and go forward with these shows.”
“At numerous times over recent years, Bon has stepped forward to perform vocals and lead the show. All of these shows have been very well received and enjoyed by the vast majority of the audiences in attendance.”
However, Nitzer Ebb aren’t holding anything against fans who don’t want to see them perform without McCarthy: “We are aware that some long-time Ebbheads may feel that they cannot continue their journey without Douglass – and we completely understand and respect that. We sincerely hope you will hold those memories dear and cherish them always. Those of us involved with Nitzer Ebb wish to pay tribute to Douglas’ memory at the remaining performances.”
Later on in their post, the group shared that they had been working on new music with Douglas McCarthy prior to his passing. They’ve now outlined what they’re planning to do with the material: “In the period previous to Doug’s passing, we had been in the studio working on new material and we look forward to releasing this new material in due course.”
You can read Nitzer Ebb’s full statement below.
Nitzer Ebb was founded in 1982 by McCarthy and his school friends Vaughan ‘Bon’ Harris and David Gooday. The Essex outfit blended post-punk sounds with new electronic and industrial styles.
They signed to Mute and released their debut studio album, ‘That Total Age’, in 1987. The band opened for their longtime friends and labelmates Depeche Mode on their ‘Music For The Masses’ European tour that same year.
Gooday quit Nitzer Ebb after the tour, with the remaining members continuing as a duo. The pair regularly collaborated with producer Flood and Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode. Nitzer Ebb shared four more albums together before breaking up in 1995. However, McCarthy continued working with Wilder as part of the latter’s Recoil project.
McCarthy and Harris reunited Nitzer Ebb in 2007 for a run of live shows. They released their sixth and final album, ‘Industrial Complex’, in 2010. The duo then welcomed Gooday back to the group in 2019 for a North American reunion tour.
Following the news of McCarthy’s passing, several notable members of the music industry have paid tribute to the late Nitzer Ebb singer. Depeche Mode’s Alan Wilder wrote: “Such sad news to have lost this fella. My friend of over 35 years.
“Prolific lyricist and dynamic performer with Nitzer Ebb, occasional guest vocalist with Recoil. Despite his health struggles, he never ever wallowed or lost an ounce of his incredible razor-sharp irreverent humour, or his deeply warm heart. Farewell old chum…”
The Smashing Pumpkins‘ frontman Billy Corgan paid his respects with a post on Instagram Stories. Elsewhere, Cold Cave – who previously toured with McCarthy – said: “Jesus… rest in peace brother Douglas McCarthy.”
See more tributes here.
NEWS
Fontaines D.C. members Carlos O’Connell and Tom Coll have been behind the production of the forthcoming second album from French indie outfit Film Noir. To introduce the project, the band has unveiled the paired singles ‘VIENS TIENS TOI’ and ‘VEGITA’, which you can listen to below.
The Fontaines D.C. guitarist and drummer worked alongside Film Noir at La Frette Studios just outside Paris. The renowned recording space is also where Arctic Monkeys created their two most recent albums, ‘Tranquillity Base…’ and ‘The Car’.
O’Connell is partnered with Film Noir vocalist Joséphine de La Baume, who is also known for her work as an actor, filmmaker and model. Together, they share two children, with their first child serving as the inspiration for Fontaines’ 2025 track ‘It’s Amazing To Be Young’.
Reflecting on the project while announcing his role in the album, O’Connell shared on social media: “In early 2020 I walked into a gig in a club in Paris and was introduced to a band called Film Noir. I fell in love with the singer, I went on to make babies with her to to fall in love twice again with them.
“A little while back myself, [Coll] and @filmnoirmusic went to La Frette and recorded their upcoming record.”
The guitarist continued: “Producing this record was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had. Blessed to have so many. This album means the world to me & I hope it’ll mean something to many more.”
Film Noir have offered an early look at the still untitled album through the release of ‘VIENS TIENS TOI’ and ‘VEGITA’. O’Connell handled production duties on both tracks, while Coll contributed drums. O’Connell also took care of mixing on ‘VEGITA’.
Opening with a light acoustic arrangement, ‘VIENS TIENS TOI’ gradually unfolds into a dreamy sound shaped by shoegaze influences. In contrast, ‘VEGITA’ leans into a brighter, surf inspired feel that complements de La Baume’s floating vocal performance.
The group has also released a behind the scenes video capturing moments from the recording sessions for their sophomore album, which can be viewed below. At this stage, no official release date has been announced.
Back in spring 2020, O’Connell collaborated with Film Noir on a rendition of Lee Hazlewood’s ‘For A Day Like Today’ (via LiveForever). When the track arrived, the band described the guitarist as “a great supporter of the European rock scene and a common friend”.
Film Noir first emerged with their debut EP, ‘Vertiges (Men Of Glory)’, in 2019, followed by ‘Tendrement’ a year later. Their first full length album, ‘Palpitant’, arrived in 2022.
Outside of music, Joséphine de La Baume portrayed Marie in the 2011 film adaptation of One Day alongside Anne Hathaway. She has also appeared in Apple TV’s The New Look and the Polish period feature Chopin, a Sonata in Paris.
O’Connell also produced the self titled debut album from Dead Dads Club, the new project led by former Palma Violets singer Chilli Jesson. Released in 2026, that record was also created at La Frette Studios.
Speaking with NME earlier this year, O’Connell explained that the French studio “feels like a home”. He continued: “There’s nothing about it that feels corporate or constrained by time. My mind goes into this creative mode in which I can hear things in a certain way, and it doesn’t stop until I leave the building.”
Jesson also spoke about the experience, saying: “It was really organic. Carlos, on one of the tours we were on together, was working on a Film Noir album, and he was always mixing it and playing around with sounds. He’d just come out of the studio at La Frette and to see that process, with the production, I was like, ‘Holy shit.’ I’d been in a world where it was all on the computer, and then suddenly he’s talking about a fucking bass drum that’s two metres long.’”
More recently, Fontaines D.C. contributed music to the soundtrack for Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. The band also appeared on the collaborative charity release ‘Help(2)’, which supports War Child.
The group are preparing to return to the stage this summer for their first performances in nearly a year, beginning with three headline concerts in Spain before taking on their first ever top billing appearances at Reading & Leeds 2026.
Their schedule also includes a headline performance at Electric Picnic in Ireland, alongside appearances at European and American festivals including Frequency, La Route du Rock and Shaky Knees.
Discussing new material with NME at the beginning of the year, O’Connell revealed: “We’ve been writing, it’s been fun. We’re at [Reading & Leeds] and there are a couple of shows before that. I think if the music is there, it could get busy.”
Asked whether any fresh songs could appear during the Reading & Leeds performances, he responded: “I’d say so. If there is stuff written, then I would say so, yeah. That’s what we used to do all the time, play the new stuff live, songs that weren’t even finished. It’s a good way to test the songs.”
O’Connell was also asked whether elements of the visual production from the ‘Romance’ era might carry over into the band’s 2026 shows. “I think ‘Romance’ was so intense in every [way]… the visual, the production, the setlist… It wasn’t just about the music,” he explained.
“It’s almost a bit of the identity of the band now, but I guess that’s the decision to make. Does that become the identity of the band, or actually, it’s just a phase and you reinvent it? I don’t know.”
He went on to add: “I personally like the idea of revisiting some old stuff at Reading & Leeds, making the setlist maybe a bit more ‘Dogrel’ heavy. I’m excited about that. I’ve been listening to music like that much more. This morning I was listening to Sonic Youth. I want to go [in] that direction, but we’ll see, because anything could happen now, literally anything.”
‘Romance’ ultimately secured the Number Two spot on NME‘s list of the 50 best albums of 2024, finishing just behind Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’.
