Bad Religion & Social Distortion Announce 2023 Tour

Bad Religion and Social Distortion will join forces for a historic tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2023. The pair of Los Angeles punk icons will unite down under for the first time, bringing a combined 87 years of punk mastery with them. The tour doubles as the first Social Distortion headline tour of Australia in their history.

The two LA heavyweights will kick off the tour in February at Trusts Arena in Auckland before making their way over to Brisbane’s Riverstage, Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne and the Red Hill Auditorium in Perth.

Traversing multiple and significant line-up changes, internal challenges and tragedies, and the demise of the very Los Angeles hardcore scene that conjured them for over four decades, California mainstays Social Distortion have spent a lifetime honing their uncompromising rootsy, hard-hitting brand of punk.

Following the release of the group's debut 1983 album Mommy's Little Monster, Social Distortion's transformation from pioneers in the then-fertile L.A hardcore scene into a distinctive sonic force to be reckoned with saw the group become one of the few punk bands to be featured on MTV in its 80s glory days. Over time the band branched out to cement their now-trademark blend of punk, blues, country and rockabilly. 

Currently in possession of seven studio albums, with whispers of an eighth full-length release on the horizon, Social Distortion's live prowess is overshadowed only by the passion and innovation relentlessly on display onstage, fearlessly helmed by the band's founder, guitarist and vocalist Mike Ness. The tour will be Social Distortion’s first Australian headline tour ever and is only their second time coming to Australia in their 44 years of existence.

Over the last 43 years, Bad Religion become synonymous with the sound, spirit and enduring legacy of Californian punk rock. Retaining their underground credibility while building a staggering punk empire, the band's storied career includes 17 studio albums and the status as one of the best-selling punk bands of all time. Bad Religion's career has been a journey of constant evolution and philosophical exploration. Over that journey, they've incorporated elements of psychedelia, heavy metal, hard rock and a whole lot of their trademarked vocal harmonies, while continuing to examine the world and push for change. They remain a relevant and vital voice in the hardcore community. 

Responsible for penning timeless punk staples Generator, Suffer, American Jesus, 21st Century Digital Boy, You, I Want To Conquer The World, Do What You Want and countless more, Bad Religion have defied the odds and expectations of an ever-changing industry, remaining as innovative, influential and important as ever. The tour with Social Distortion marks their first headlining tour of Australia in more than a decade. 

Tickets for the tour will go on sale Tuesday 30 August at 9 am via Destroy All Lines. There will be a pre-sale, starting on Friday 26 August at 9 am. Registration for that pre-sale can be found here. 

SOCIAL DISTORTION & BAD RELIGION AUSTRALIA/NZ TOUR DATES

WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2023 – TRUSTS ARENA, AUCKLAND

FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2023 – RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE

SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2023 – HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY

SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2023 – MARGARET COURT ARENA, MELBOURNE

WEDNESDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2023 – RED HILL AUDITORIUM, PERTH