Dead Can Dance is an Australian musical group formed in 1981 in Melbourne by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band has been acclaimed for their unique sound which incorporates elements of ethereal wave, neoclassical dark wave, gothic rock, and world music. They have released 9 studio albums and toured extensively since their inception. However, in recent years some of their planned concerts have had to be cancelled, much to the disappointment of their loyal fans. There are a few key reasons why Dead Can Dance concerts get cancelled.
Lisa Gerrard’s Solo Projects
One factor is that Lisa Gerrard, the female vocalist and instrumentalist of the group, often pursues solo projects outside of Dead Can Dance. This includes film scores, solo albums, and collaborations with other artists. When she takes on these other commitments it can conflict with planned Dead Can Dance tours and lead to shows being cancelled. For example, in 2018 several Dead Can Dance concerts in North America had to be cancelled because Gerrard was simultaneously working on the score for the film Nude Area.
Brendan Perry’s Scheduling Conflicts
Similarly, Brendan Perry, the male vocalist and multi-instrumentalist of the band, has outside musical ventures that sometimes interfere with Dead Can Dance touring plans. He has released solo albums under the name Brendan Perry, including Eye of the Hunter in 1999 and Ark in 2010. If promotion or work on these solo projects overlaps with planned Dead Can Dance shows, it can lead to cancelled concerts. Perry also relocated to Ireland in the 1990s, which can make touring logistics more challenging.
Health Issues
Illness and other health factors have also forced Dead Can Dance to cancel shows over the years. For example, in 2012 Brendan Perry was diagnosed with pericarditis, leading to the cancellation of their North American tour that year. Singing and the physical demands of touring can put strain on vocal health, so illnesses affecting the vocal cords or breathing ability can necessitate cancelled shows. The band cancelled several European tour dates in 2013 when Gerrard suffered problems with her vocal cords.
Previous Dead Can Dance Concert Cancellations
To understand why Dead Can Dance concerts get cancelled, it can be illustrative to look at some specific examples over their career:
2012 North American Tour
Dead Can Dance were scheduled to embark on a North American tour in autumn 2012 after the release of their album Anastasis. However, the entire tour had to be cancelled shortly before it was set to begin when Brendan Perry was diagnosed with a heart condition called pericarditis. Refunds were issued to all ticket holders.
Date | City | Venue |
---|---|---|
Sep 13 | Vancouver, BC | Orpheum Theatre |
Sep 14 | Seattle, WA | Paramount Theatre |
Sep 16 | Oakland, CA | Paramount Theatre |
2013 European Tour Dates
Dead Can Dance were forced to cancel six shows in Europe in October 2013. The cancelled concerts included dates in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Italy, and Israel. The reason was issues with Lisa Gerrard’s vocal cords. As a singer, vocal cord problems pose a significant impairment to being able to perform.
Date | City | Venue |
---|---|---|
Oct 5 | Istanbul, Turkey | KüçükÇiftlik Park |
Oct 8 | Plovdiv, Bulgaria | Ancient Theatre |
2018 North American Tour
In August 2018, Dead Can Dance announced the cancellation of all 14 concerts scheduled for their North American tour. The shows were meant to take place in November 2018, but were called off because Lisa Gerrard was concurrently working on recording the score for the film Nude Area. This prevented her from being able to tour with Brendan Perry at that time.
Date | City | Venue |
---|---|---|
Nov 5 | San Francisco, CA | Masonic Auditorium |
Nov 7 | Los Angeles, CA | Orpheum Theatre |
Nov 13 | Chicago, IL | Auditorium Theatre |
Impact on Fans
When Dead Can Dance concerts get cancelled it has a significant impact on their fans, many of whom have waited months or years for a chance to see them perform live. Here are some of the key impacts:
Disappointment and Frustration
Fans are understandably disappointed when shows they planned to attend are cancelled at the last minute. They clear their schedules, buy plane tickets, book hotels, arrange travel and accommodations – all with the expectation of seeing Dead Can Dance live. So sudden concert cancellations are extremely frustrating and a letdown.
Wasted Expenses
In addition to disappointment, cancelled concerts also mean that fans have often wasted money on travel costs and accommodations related to the shows. These expenses are usually non-refundable, so fans are out of luck.
Missed Experience
Seeing Dead Can Dance perform their evocative music live is a unique experience and highlight for their fans. When shows are cancelled, it denies fans the chance to have this extraordinary live experience and share in the music with fellow devotees.
Uncertainty About Future Tours
Frequent concert cancellations also create uncertainty for fans about whether future tours will actually happen as scheduled. This makes fans hesitant to make travel plans the next time Dead Can Dance announce a tour.
Possible Solutions
While some cancelled concerts are inevitable, there may be ways for Dead Can Dance to reduce the frequency and impact of cancelled shows in the future. Here are some potential solutions:
Schedule Tours Further in Advance
Scheduling tours earlier, allowing more advance notice, could make both Gerrard and Perry less likely to commit to conflicting projects. This would reduce likelihood of overlap.
Stagger Solo Projects
Staggering their solo schedules more carefully could also minimize conflicting commitments falling at the same time as planned tours.
Schedule Fewer Concerts Per Tour
Reducing the number of shows per tour, allowing more rest days, could make completing tours more feasible if health issues arise.
Book Smaller Venues
Booking more intimate venues with lower production costs could reduce the financial impact of cancellations if they do occur.
Improve Communication with Fans
Improving communication when cancellations happen could help smooth things over with disappointed fans. More transparency about reasons could reduce frustration.
Conclusion
Dead Can Dance concerts periodically have to be cancelled, much to the dismay of their global fanbase. Key factors leading to cancellations include conflicts with Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry’s solo projects, health issues affecting their ability to perform, and the logistics of touring as a band that began in Australia but whose members now reside all over the world. While some cancellations will always be inevitable, better tour scheduling, planning, and communication with fans could potentially reduce their frequency and impact. Their devotees remain optimistic that solutions can be found to minimize disruptions to future tours.