12th October 1998 – The Living End released their debut self-titled album. It was one of the most anticipated albums from an Australian band EVER! Coming off the back of the massive double A-side single Second Solution/Prisoner of Society, everything The Living End had worked for since their first gig in 1991 was coming down to this, their first full-length album. Would it hit big, or crumble under the overwhelming expectation?
We all know the outcome. The Living End album is a staple in Australian musical history. Debuting #1 on the ARIA Album Chart on release, the album stayed in the Top 10 for 27 weeks. It went on to win the band “Breakthrough Artist – Album” and “Best Group” at the 1999 ARIA Awards.
25 years since its release, frontman Chris Cheney reflects on the creation of the album: “I think unknowingly our destination was always this; this album right here. All songs led here. All the gigs and all the songs we’d written and rejected over the years, all the lessons we’d learned had been building up to this….our first album.”
Almost to the day, a 25th-anniversary edition of The Living End will be released on October 13, 2023. The 14-track album has been repackaged for vinyl and CD with a 32-page booklet complete with Chris Cheney penned liner notes and photos from the period. Added to the album is a 10-track live recording from 1998 captured for triple j’s Live At The Wireless. The live recording includes a rare cover version of On The Inside (theme from Prisoner) as well as a riotous rendition of Prisoner of Society which has been released digitally today to whet appetites.
Of course, an anniversary like this can’t go by without a big celebration. The Living End have announced a one-off show to celebrate the 25-year milestone to take place in their hometown of Melbourne at Festival Hall on Saturday, November 4, playing the iconic self-titled album in full, plus all their other hits, rarities and deep cuts in a once in a lifetime celebration. Advance tickets will be offered to fans who are signed up to the bands database via pre-sale on Thursday 3rd August at 12pm AEST. General on sale will commence on Friday 4th August at 12pm AEST.
