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confirmed the news in a new statement published on Saturday (June 21): ‘As some of you may have heard by now, we have withdrawn from our recent festival appearance at Eastside in light of recent events as we feel that it is too soon to do so.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
Oliver Tree’s team has provided a new update following the singer’s death in a helicopter crash on June 14, confirming that a new artist grant will soon be established in his memory to help creatives secure funding, a plan he had detailed in his will before his passing.
Accompanying a collection of photos highlighting Tree’s performances, travels and creative work through the years, a post shared Sunday (June 21) on his Instagram account revealed that the musician’s remains have been brought back to California, the state he called home and where he will be laid to rest. “His legacy will live on through his foundation/endowment named ‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses’ coming soon,” the caption reads. “This is something that Oliver had put together before his passing.”
“We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish,” the statement continued, adding that “the constant love, support and positivity” shown by fans throughout the past week has helped his “family, friends and collaborators make it through these extremely difficult times.”
Tree was among six people who lost their lives in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro. The musician was in Brazil for his The World’s First Tour run and had performed what would ultimately be his final concert on June 6 in São Paulo. The other victims of the crash were identified as passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim and Lucas Brito Chaves, along with pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
Just months before his death, Tree discussed his plans to direct his fortune and future earnings from his music toward a grant program for artists during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show. “I take no credit for anything I’ve ever done,” he said during the April interview. “Furthermore, I don’t believe that any of the wealth or things that get made from it is mine. So when I die … my will is set up so that when I pass, my family, nobody is going to get a penny.”
“If I have a wife or kids or anything, they’re not getting a penny,” he added at the time, explaining that the initiative would focus on helping artists create work rather than funding education. “I’ll get my kids through college, that’s the agreement, but there’s not gonna be a silver spoon. All the money is going to go back to artists.”
