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confirmed the news in a new statement published on Saturday (June 21): ‘As some of you may have heard by now, we have withdrawn from our recent festival appearance at Eastside in light of recent events as we feel that it is too soon to do so.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.
Fontaines D.C. have teamed up with Rosalía for their new collaboration, Where Is Gone?.
The song features on the Irish rock band's forthcoming album, Dopamine Chamber, which arrives on Friday (16.10.26). For guitarist Carlos O’Connell, working with the Spanish superstar is particularly special because of his own Spanish roots.
He explained: “I’ve admired Rosalía ever since her debut album, which I thought was absolutely beautiful.
“What excited me most was the way she continued to preserve Spain's musical traditions, something that felt spiritually connected to what we've been trying to achieve with Irish music. Having roots in both countries, it's been really special to witness. "She's an artist who has continued to amaze me at every point in her career.”
Frontman Grian Chatten has also described the collaboration with Rosalía as one of the most memorable achievements of his career.
He revealed that he felt "humbled" when she agreed to lend her voice to the band's album.
Speaking to NPR, Grian said: “I've always felt there's something almost like a single big idea that I'm personally trying to communicate to the world before I get old and die, if that makes sense. There's one thing I think I'll spend my life trying to express. I have a feeling she has a similar outlook. … I mean, she's an amazing arranger, composer and lyricist. It means so much that she wanted to sing on something we'd put together. It's definitely one of the highlights of my career.”
Rosalía's links to Irish rock music extend beyond Fontaines D.C. She also offered inspiration and helped develop the Spanish lyrics for U2's The Mirror Maker (Rosalía), a track from their forthcoming album, Carnaval de Luz.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, she spoke about frontman Bono, saying: “I don't know him personally, but he sent me a text explaining that he was working on a new project and had written a song called The Mirror Maker."
Rosalía joked that Bono had invented a few words of his own.
She recalled telling him: “I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I told him he could create his own language if he wanted to.”
She described the opportunity to collaborate with the 66 year old music veteran as a real privilege.
She added: “Bono is a legend.
“It's amazing.”
Bono recently revealed that he was worried about seeming like a stalker when he reached out to Rosalía to ask whether he could name the song after her.
