Placebo Release New Single ‘Helen Keller’ Ahead Of 30th Anniversary UK And European Tour

Placebo have released a new single, ‘Helen Keller’, as they begin their 30th anniversary celebrations.

The track has its roots in the band’s earliest years. Its central keyboard melody comes from ‘H.K. Farewell’, the hidden track from Placebo’s self-titled 1996 debut album, but ‘Helen Keller’ develops that original idea into a completely new song.

Recorded in London earlier this year, the track was produced by Placebo and Adam Noble, who also mixed the recording.

Brian Molko describes ‘Helen Keller’ as “a new rock song inspired by the piano melody from H.K. Farewell”, adding that it was named after one of his favourite people from history.

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The release arrives as Placebo embark on their extensive 30th anniversary UK and European arena tour. The band are performing songs exclusively from their first two albums, Placebo and 1998’s Without You I’m Nothing, including tracks that have not been performed live for more than 20 years.

The anniversary campaign has also seen the release of Placebo RE:CREATED, a reworking of the band’s debut album made from the original master tapes. The project revisits the record with the perspective of three decades of playing the songs live.

The tour began in Portugal on 28 September and will travel through Europe before reaching the UK and Ireland in November and December.

Placebo 30th Anniversary Tour

• 29 September – Lisbon, Portugal – Sagres Campo Pequeno
• 1 October – Madrid, Spain – Movistar Arena
• 3 October – Barcelona, Spain – Sant Jordi Club
• 5 October – Toulouse, France – Zénith de Toulouse
• 7 October – Nantes, France – Zénith Nantes Métropole
• 9 October – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
• 12 October – Leipzig, Germany – QUARTERBACK Immobilien Arena
• 15 October – Vilnius, Lithuania – Twinsbet Arena
• 16 October – Riga, Latvia – Arena Riga
• 18 October – Helsinki, Finland – Veikka Arena
• 20 October – Stockholm, Sweden – Annexet
• 22 October – Oslo, Norway – Oslo Spektrum
• 24 October – Copenhagen, Denmark – K.B. Hallen
• 26 October – Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
• 27 October – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
• 29 October – Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle
• 1 November – Antwerp, Belgium – AFAS Dome
• 2 November – Cologne, Germany – LANXESS Arena
• 4 November – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
• 6 November – Milan, Italy – Unipol Forum
• 9 November – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle
• 10 November – Vienna, Austria – Wiener Stadthalle
• 13 November – Budapest, Hungary – Papp László Budapest Sportaréna
• 15 November – Prague, Czech Republic – Sportovní hala Fortuna
• 16 November – Berlin, Germany – Uber Arena
• 18 November – Łódź, Poland – Atlas Arena
• 21 November – Stuttgart, Germany – Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
• 23 November – Lyon, France – LDLC Arena
• 25 November – Paris, France – Accor Arena
• 28 November – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
• 30 November – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
• 2 December – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
• 4 December – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
• 5 December – London, UK – OVO Arena Wembley
• 7 December – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena

‘Helen Keller’ adds another link between Placebo’s beginnings and their current anniversary campaign, taking an idea first heard on their debut album and turning it into something new three decades later.