Australian Crawl Returns
Australian Crawl Announces 40-Year Reunion Tour Headlined by James Reyne
Key Points
James Reyne said the band’s early growth came from grassroots gigging, recalling: “We ran our own shows on the Pen and a following grew,” and added that he never expected that “40 years, three original members would be sharing the same stage once again.”
Reyne said the reunion was ultimately driven by promoter Duane McDonald, describing that it “wasn’t my idea,” and that “the astute promoter hatched a plan,” while also calling Australian Crawl “my apprenticeship” before he “went and did my own thing.”
Reyne said he could not contact original bassist Paul Williams, whom he believes “lives off-grid” in Queensland, and noted that the shows will include David Reyne playing his first Australian Crawl dates since 1979 after leaving for a television career.
The tour is not a complete “original” reunion, with Article 4 saying it comes despite the losses of key members Guy McDonough and Brad Robinson in the 1980s and 1990s—and it lists additional touring musicians beyond John Watson, including Brett Kingman, Josh Owen, Andrew McIvor, Sean Johnson, Melinda Jackson and Nicole Kurta.
Australian Crawl will perform under their original band name for the first time in 40 years, headlining the 2026 Red Hot Summer Tour alongside Men At Work. PerthNow confirmed the announcement on June 15, with founding frontman James Reyne, guitarist Simon Binks, and drummer David Reyne set to share a stage across 10 coastal and regional shows from October 17 to November 15.
Tickets range from $169.90 for general admission to $399.90 for VIP. General public sales open at 9:00am AEST on Thursday, June 25, 2026, via redhotsummertour.com.au. 96fm notes the tour has a reputation for selling out quickly.
A Promoter's Plan Pulls the Band Back Together
James Reyne was blunt about how the reunion came about. "It wasn't my idea," he said, crediting promoter Duane McDonald. He called the whole thing "a folly" but also "a blast." Reyne described Australian Crawl as "my apprenticeship" before he "went and did my own thing." The Music Network reported he seemed genuinely surprised the plan had come together at all.
Simon Binks echoed that surprise. "Who would have thought that this far down the track, three original members would be sharing the same stage once again," he said, according to PerthNow. David Reyne, back on drums for his first Australian Crawl dates since 1979, described the band's early days as a "howling, joyous, sunburnt shindig."
Trademark Battle Cleared the Way for the Name's Return
The reunion was not just a matter of goodwill. Former drummer Bill McDonough had held the trademark to the name "Australian Crawl" since 1990 and 1994, registered without group input. In March 2026, Reyne and Binks filed in the Australian Federal Court to reclaim access to the trademark, according to Rolling Stone Australia.
The legal action was not about stripping Bill McDonough of past earnings. Manager Scot Crawford said the goal was to give original members access to trademark registration for heritage projects. The Music Network noted the resolution may set a precedent for other 1980s bands whose names are held by former members or defunct labels.
Not Every Original Member Could Make It Back
The reunion is not a full original lineup. Guitarist Guy McDonough died in 1984 and bassist Brad Robinson passed in the 1990s. Reyne said he tried to reach original bassist Paul Williams but could not. He believes Williams "lives off-grid" in Queensland. Newcastle Weekly noted the tour comes despite those absences.
The full touring band includes John Watson, Brett Kingman, Josh Owen, Andrew McIvor, Sean Johnson, Melinda Jackson, and Nicole Kurta, according to AOL. Some fans have questioned whether the "Australian Crawl" name fits what is largely a Reyne-led ensemble, but Reyne's own quote cuts through: "We ran our own shows on the Pen and a following grew."
Men At Work and a Stacked Supporting Bill Round Out the Tour
Men At Work, fronted by Colin Hay, share top billing. Noise11 reported Hay pointed to their shared history at the 1983 Narara Music Festival as proof of the pairing's historic weight — the first time the two acts have been on the same bill in 43 years.
The wider lineup includes Vika & Linda, Birds of Tokyo, Eskimo Joe, Boom Crash Opera, and Ella Hooper. The tour spans 10 dates across regional and coastal locations including Toowoomba, Berry, and the Hunter Valley. Pre-sales begin June 22 for Telstra Plus members and June 23 for Red Hot Summer Tour members, according to Yahoo.
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