The Grammy Award winners and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees defined the 70s for a generation of music fans with hits such as ‘Reelin’ in the Years’, ‘Do It Again’, ‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number’, and ‘Peg’ enduring FM radio staples.
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen first met in 1967 and went on to form Steely Dan in 1971. The band released six albums across the 1970s, including Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972), Countdown To Ecstasy (1973), Pretzel Logic (1974), Katy Lied (1975), The Royal Scam (1976), and Aja (1977). Despite their prolific activity in the recording studio, the band rarely toured, becoming purely studio based from 1975 to 1980.
In 1980 they released Gaucho, which delivered the hit single ‘Hey Nineteen’. In 1981 the band announced their breakup, with Becker and Fagen both focusing on solo projects until they reformed Steely Dan in 1993, touring the United States and internationally to widespread acclaim over the ensuing years.
In 2000 they released their first studio album in twenty years Two Against Nature, which went on to earn them a massive four Grammy Awards in 2001, beating controversial rapper Eminem for the coveted Album Of The Year Award. Later that year Fagen and Becker were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and in 2003 released Everything Must Go.
Now, an impressive 40 years on since they first met, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are finally confirmed for their debut tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Promoter Michael Gudinski said he was thrilled when he heard the band were considering Australia and New Zealand as a tour destination in 2007.
“Steely Dan are absolute legends and I’m so excited that they’re finally touring here. I’ve been trying to get them here for so many years,” Michael said of the tour announcement.
“I honestly think fans in Australia and New Zealand won’t believe it when they first hear they’re coming. This is just huge news.”
Touring with a ten-piece band Donald Fagen and Walter Becker will be joined on stage by Keith Carlock (Drums), Jon Herington (Guitar), Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery (Backing Vocals), Michael Leonhart (Trumpet), Cindy Mizelle (Backing Vocals), Jim Pugh (Trombone), Roger Rosenberg (Baritone Sax ), Freddie Washington (Bass), Walt Weiskopf (Sax), and Jeff Young (Keyboards and Backing Vocals).
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UPDATED!
The announcement of Steely Dan's first ever Australian and New Zealand tour excited music fans far and wide. Now, The Frontier Touring Company is pleased to further add to the excitement with the confirmation that hit UK indie band World Party will be joining Steely Dan for all Australian and New Zealand tour dates.
Formed in the mid-Eighties after the multi-talented Karl Wallinger departed cult band The Waterboys, World Party quickly shot to success around the globe with the hit single 'Ship Of Fools'.
Wallinger's career, spanning over twenty years with World Party alone, has seen highs and lows. Wallinger's twenty year relationship with his label, Chrysalis Records, was severed after discovering his former label manager, and much of his band, had produced a near identical version of one of his songs, which went on to win Robbie Williams a Brit Award for Best Single. Shortly after his manager and mentor Steve Fargnoli died of cancer, and Karl had an aneurysm.
In 2007, a rejuvenated Wallinger is back on the touring circuit, with his own label and a remastered and repackaged edition of World Party's album Dumbing Up. With his sense of humour firmly in tow, Karl Wallinger and World Party will bring their special brand of party fun to the stage this September.
Tickets to Steely Dan go on sale in Australia and New Zealand on Monday 23 April. Strictly ONE SHOW ONLY - no second shows will be added!
