Placebo debuts Helen Keller and plays deep cuts on tour
Thirty years is a massive milestone, and when a band hits that mark, they don’t just celebrate—they throw a retrospective party. Placebo recently kicked off their 30th-anniversary tour by digging deep into their catalog, offering fans a rare glimpse of the history behind the iconic sound.
This celebratory arena tour is a chance to revisit the foundation of their career, focusing heavily on material from their debut album and sophomore record, Without You I’m Nothing. The show was less a standard concert and more a journey through the evolution of their sound, bringing back tracks that fans might have forgotten, and new material that has been simmering in the shadows.
The energy was palpable, especially at the opening night in France, where the band delivered a stacked 19-song set. It was an exercise in musical nostalgia, suddenly resurrecting songs that hadn’t been played live in over two decades. For instance, they performed ‘Come Home’ for the first time since 2006, and ‘You Don’t Care About Us’ since 2001, proving that some classics simply refuse to stay buried.
The performance became an auditory time capsule. Tracks like ‘Drowning by Numbers’, ‘Brick Shithouse’, and ‘Scared of Girls’ were reintroduced to the audience, alongside rarities like ‘My Sweet Prince’ and ‘Lady of the Flowers’. This deep dive into their history showcased a musical journey that spans three decades, demonstrating how much the band has evolved since their debut.
The setlist was a masterclass in balancing old and new, weaving together the established hits with the depth of their discography. The band even paid homage to other musical giants, closing the performance with live covers of songs by Depeche Mode and Kate Bush.
But the excitement didn’t stop there. As the tour progressed, Placebo introduced their newest single, ‘Helen Keller’, for the first time to a massive live audience. This new track, released earlier this year, added a fresh, raw dimension to the anniversary celebration.
Beyond the live performance, the band also marked their 30th anniversary by releasing a reimagined version of their 1996 debut album. Molko and Stefan Olsdal returned to the original master tapes, reworking all ten songs into a sort of “director’s cut,” injecting three decades more experience into the original recordings. It was a true sonic homecoming.
The ongoing tour promises more adventures, heading through the UK and Ireland before embarking on a major Latin American leg in 2027. It’s a celebration that honors the history, pays respect to the classics, and confidently looks toward the future of this legendary band.
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