The Saints ‘73-’78 Conquer North America

Catching up with founding member Ed Kuepper on this fall’s hottest tour

November 11, 2025November 11, 2025 Ron Hart 2 Comments Australia, Brooklyn, Chris Bailey, Ed Kuepper, Ivor Hay, Mark Arm, Mick Harvey, MUDHONEY, New York, Peter Oxley, The Birthday Party, The Saints, The Saints '73-'78

The Saints ’73-’78 are on tour in North America through Nov. 16. (Image: Leafy Green Booking)

Australian punk legends The Saints ‘73-’78 are currently in the throes of a white-hot North American tour that runs through Nov. 16 when they close out in Washington D.C. at Union Stage.

The band — made up of original members Ed Kuepper on guitars and drummer Ivor Hay along with prolific pals Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Mick Harvey (Birthday Party, Bad Seeds) and Peter Oxley (Sunnyboys) — already tore it up in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Chicago, and have their sights set on Brooklyn, New York, this Friday when they touch down at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

From those who’ve seen them live, they insist this is no mere tribute act. Strapped with a three-piece horn section -— Eamon Dilworth (trumpet), Julian Wilson (tenor sax) and Mark Spencer (baritone sax) — and material from the first three Saints albums (1977’s (I’m) Stranded and 1978’s double blast of Eternally Yours and Prehistoric Sounds), these shows glow with the light of a billion tube amps. Or so I’ve read.

We had the privilege of sending over some email questions for Ed to answer on the road as the band tears its way across the continent. Here’s what he had to say.

When you first formed The Saints, what inspired the band’s initial direction in 1973? What informed the sound from the get-go out there in Australia?

I loved music, rock ‘n’ roll in particular, so I just wanted to get in on that action ever since I was ridiculously young, had no real idea how to do it, just kind of blundered my way thru.

How does it feel to be playing this material 50-plus years later on this current tour? What has the energy been like from the crowds and everything?

Really good, it feels alive, not like a revival tour in the slightest… tho to be honest I’ve never experienced a revival tour…. the audiences have been great pretty much everywhere… the band is tight but not polished…which is the way I like it.

The original Saints never got to play the United States. What has it been like bringing this material to American audiences after all these years?

Terrific really, I knew some people had heard of us, but it’s great being here and seeing people know the words etc.

What’s it been like touring with the horn section?

Essential to perform the songs how I wanted to…. they’re a fantastic section and really make it work. That said, I’ve toured with horns quite a bit over the years in Laughing Clowns, my solo stuff as well as with The Aints.

It’s great to see Mick Harvey in this band. How far do you go back as mates?

I’ve known Mick a long time, but The Saints were a few years before The Birthday Party was around. My next band Laughing Clowns did quite a few shows with them however and that’s how we met.

How did you connect with Mark Arm and what made you feel that he was the right choice for this edition of the band?

I didn’t know Mark personally but we had a mutual friend who suggested him, I did a bit of research and was very pleased he was keen to be involved.

Are there plans to put together box sets for Eternally Yours and Prehistoric Sounds? What do the Saints’ archives look like in terms of unreleased material?

Hopefully, but the contractual stuff is a nightmare. Not tons of unreleased stuff outside of live recordings but it would be nice to have them reissued properly. With the exception of the All Times Thru Paradise CD box from about 20 years ago, none of the reissues have had any input from me.

VIDEO: The Saints ’73-’78 “Nights in Venice”

What are you most looking forward to about playing the NYC shows, including your duo gig with Jim White at TV Eye in Queens? When was your first time playing New York and what was it like?

Everything really, the shows I’m doing with Jim White are quite different from The Saints shows for starters, plus I’m guessing there is a slightly jubilant mood over there atm

I played in New York in the late ’80s with my band The Yard Goes on Forever, the shows were really good but there was no follow up from the label.

How do you feel punk rock has changed in the last 50 years? Do you have hope for its survival?

Lots, it’s become much broader and less confining than it was which I like, there’s much more a feeling of community maybe. Punk by the end of ’77 in London seemed to be full of bandwagon jumpers and pretenders…. Johnny-come-latelies really. I imagine it will, I think there’ll always be something, even if it doesn’t sound like the old stuff.

What’s it been like touring America during these Trump times?

Interesting…. I’m not a big fan of travelling at the best of times but luckily we haven’t been too adversely affected….. but the immigration stuff…. whoohoo!