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2026 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Featuring THE SMITHEREENS
June 1st, 2026 by Bruce R. Kilgour
Long time new wave mainstays The Fixx have announced a 21-date summer tour of North America during June and July of this year, and on select dates (including both Southern California shows) they will be joined by very special guests, The Smithereens.
In 1979, the five original members of The Fixx did not exactly burst onto the scene. College pals Cy Curnin (vocals), Adam Woods (drums), and keyboardist Rupert Greenall were joined by various bass and guitar players under their first band name, Portraits.
Guitarist Jamie West-Oram joined in 1980 along with bassist Charlie Barrett, and new lineup was briefly known as The Fix, until their new major label – MCA Records – requested a name change to The Fixx.
Their debut album “Shuttered Room” was released in 1982, and modern rock radio fully embraced the two smash singles, “Stand or Fall” and “Red Skies,” as did the barely year-old MTV music video channel.
One year later, their second LP “Reach the Beach” was released and produced two more huge hits in “One Thing Leads to Another” and “Saved by Zero.” New bassist Dan K. Brown joined in 1983 and remains in the band to this day. Three more successful albums were released between 1984 and 1989, each containing at least one major hit song.
The Fixx continue to occasionally record and have released seven albums over the last 30 years. Touring has never stopped for these alternative icons, who most recently completed a 32-date run of the United States last year with a core lineup that has lasted over 40 years.
New Jersey rock / power pop band The Smithereens formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio (vocals and guitar), Jim Babjak (guitar and vocals), Mike Mesaros (bass guitar and vocals), and drummer Dennis Diken.
It took six years, however, to release their debut LP “Especially for You” which contained the massive MTV and college radio hits “Blood and Roses” and “Behind the Wall of Sleep.”
Their second album followed in 1988, “Green Thoughts,” which featured the hit “Only a Memory.” In 1989, the album “11” marked the end of their peak commercial era with the pop hit “A Girl Like You.” In the following 25 years or so, the band mostly released cover albums in tribute to their heroes The Beatles and The Who.
Singer (and sole songwriter) DiNizio tragically passed away in 2017, and a year later, The Smithereens decided to continue their legacy with Babjak, Diken and Mesaros touring with different guest vocalists, including Marshall Crenshaw, Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms, and more recently John Cowsill. Bassist Severo “The Thrilla” Jornacion typically performs with the band, with Mesaros only rejoining the band for select shows.
Expect an exciting evening of hits when The Fixx and The Smithereens perform their only greater Los Angeles area show on July 30 at The Belasco – tickets are now on sale!
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SID 260601 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
