Los Angeles hardcore pioneers FEAR are finally heading to Australia, announcing their first ever tour of the country after nearly five decades of chaos, controversy, and volume.
The legendary punk outfit will arrive this June and July, bringing their confrontational brand of hardcore to stages across the country, for fans of the early American punk explosion, it’s a moment that’s been a long time coming.
The current FEAR lineup still features Ving alongside original drummer Spit Stix, keeping a direct link to the band’s earliest days, they’re joined by Geoff Kresge, known for his work with AFI and Tiger Army, and guitarist Eric Razo of The Henchmen.
FEAR Australia Tour Dates 2026
FEAR 2026 Australian Tour Dates
- Friday, June 26th – Sydney, Marrickville Bowlo
- Saturday, June 27th – Hunter Valley, Thrashville Festival
- Sunday, June 28th – Wollongong, La La Las
- Friday, July 3rd – Melbourne, The Tote
- Saturday, July 4th – Gold Coast, Vinnies Dive Bar
- Sunday, July 5th – Brisbane, The Brightside
Tickets are on sale now here.
Formed in Los Angeles in 1978, FEAR helped shape the raw attitude that defined early hardcore punk, while many bands flirted with the scene’s aggression, FEAR leaned all the way in, building a reputation for shows that felt equal parts gig and riot.
That notoriety exploded into the mainstream in 1981, when the band appeared on Saturday Night Live during a Halloween broadcast thanks to the support of actor and punk fan John Belushi.
The performance quickly spiralled, slam dancing erupted in the studio, the set reportedly caused damage to the stage, and the fallout landed the band on a permanent ban list from the show. Decades later, the moment still echoes through punk folklore, with Rolling Stone ranking it the No. 1 musical performance in SNL history.
FEAR’s 1982 debut album ‘The Record’ went on to sell more than 500,000 copies and remains one of the most influential releases to come out of the early hardcore movement.
Frontman Lee Ving has also built a long acting career outside the band, appearing in films including Flashdance, Clue, and Streets of Fire, along with dozens of television roles. He later appeared in Dave Grohl’s ‘Sound City’ documentary as part of the Sound City Players project.
After more than 45 years of influence, Australian audiences will finally get the chance to see FEAR live for the first time.
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