Placebo have begun their 30th anniversary tour, marking the occasion by playing their new single 'Helen Keller' live for the first time. The tour also sees the band performing several tracks that have been absent from their setlists for over 20 years.
The band's opening night at Krakatoa in Mérignac, France, featured a 19-song set. This included the first live performance of 'Come Home' in 20 years and 'You Don't Care About Us' since 2001. Other songs like 'Without You I'm Nothing' and 'Allergic (To Thoughts Of Mother Earth)' were played for the first time since 2018 and 2014 respectively.
Tracks such as 'Drowning by Numbers', 'Bruise Pristine', and 'My Sweet Prince' were reintroduced to the setlist for the first time since 2001. 'Brick Shithouse' was played for the first time since 2003, and 'Scared Of Girls' for the first time since 2010. 'Lady Of The Flowers' and '36 Degrees' also returned after nine years.
The new single 'Helen Keller' was first performed at a later show at the Super Bock Arena in Porto, Portugal. The band released 'Helen Keller' on 28 September, which draws from 'H.K. Farewell', a hidden instrumental from their 1996 debut album era.
To commemorate their 30th anniversary, Placebo have also released a reimagined version of their debut album. Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal revisited the original master tapes to rework all 10 songs, describing it as a "director's cut" to infuse the tracks with three decades of experience.
The ongoing tour is scheduled to reach the UK and Ireland in late November and early December, with dates in Nottingham, Glasgow, Dublin, Manchester, London, and Cardiff. The tour will then continue to Latin America in 2027.