Razorlight turned down “a massive tour playing the greatest hits” for new album ‘Planet Nowhere’ shows

1 August, 2024

Razorlight's Johnny Borrell

Razorlight have said they turned down a “massive” offer to do a greatest hits tour, in favour of an intimate run of shows playing their new album ‘Planet Nowhere’.

Last Friday (July 26) the indie band announced ‘Planet Nowhere’, the first album recorded by the group’s classic line-up since 2008. It sees singer Johnny Borrell, guitarist Bjorn Agren, drummer Andy Burrows and bassist Carl Dalemo reunited for the first time since their third album ‘Slipway Fires’.

It will be released on October 25, and you can pre-order it here.

Borrell and co. have also shared the record’s lead single, ‘Scared Of Nothing’, which you can check out below:

Now, Razorlight have revealed that they had the option to go on a major tour to play music from their back catalogue, but they have turned it down to play a run of six smaller venues around the UK in October to focus on the new material.

Writing on X/Twitter, the band said: “They offered us a massive tour playing the greatest hits, again. But we’re telling you we believe in this album. So we’re going to prove it on the road. You know, like a band.

“We said no to the big tour and will be playing 6 tiny venues around the UK. All the songs from the new album. And some classic RZLT.”

A pre-sale for tickets to the shows began at 9am BST this morning (August 1) for those who have pre-ordered ‘Planet Nowhere’. Tickets go on general sale at 9am BST tomorrow (August 2) – you’ll be able to buy yours here.

Razorlight will play:

OCTOBER
18 – Castle & Falcon, Birmingham,
19 – Mash House, Edinburgh,
20 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
21 – Band On The Wall, Manchester
22 – Komedia, Brighton
24 – Strange Brew, Bristol,

Razorlight had already announced plans for a one-off show at the O2 Academy Brixton in London on November 21 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, ‘Up All Night’. Support at that gig will come from Mystery Jets – find any remaining tickets here.

The band formally reunited in 2021 after 10 years apart, and that year they released two new songs as part of a Best Of album, ‘Razorwhat?’.

Borrell recently spoke to NME about the impetus for making the new full-length record, explaining that he would have considered ending the band if they hadn’t been able to make it.

“I said to everyone: ‘If new music doesn’t work, let’s move on.’ I was ready to ceremonially say goodbye to Razorlight,” he said. “It would have been a major deal. I was contemplating all kinds of ways to end it, some involving Japanese swords. But this album wanted to be made.”

Borrell also reflected on the band’s breakthrough years in the mid-’00s: “We were all aware something bananas was happening. You can’t be that much in demand and not think: ‘This isn’t totally normal.’

“The time since gave me a lot of time to reflect and think: ‘Yeah, that really, really wasn’t normal. It was amazing.’ And at the top of that list is the way it feels when Razorlight plays together. When we lift off, it’s something I haven’t felt anywhere else.”

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