CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS 159: MEMPHIS MAY FIRE ON RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA
After a chaotic, sold-out Australian run that left more than 1600 fans on waiting lists, Memphis May Fire are wasting no time coming back. With unfinished business and a renewed sense of urgency, the band are gearing up for a return that promises to go bigger, louder and harder than before. We caught up with them to talk fan demand, the intensity of Australian crowds and why this tour might hit harder than any before it.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: Your last Australian tour with Atreyu was pure chaos, five sold-out shows and more than 1600 fans stuck on waiting lists. How did that overwhelming demand hit you as a band?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: It honestly caught us off guard in the best way. You always hope for that kind of response, but to see it, to watch tickets disappear that fast and then hear about the waiting lists, it was surreal. It felt like Australia was saying, “Hey, we’ve been here, and we’ve been waiting.” As a band, it lit a fire under us. It reminded us that what we’re doing still matters, and that there’s unfinished business there.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: You’ve said hearing from fans who missed out was the driving force behind returning so quickly. Was there a particular message or story that really stuck with you?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: Yeah, there were a ton, but one that stuck with me was a fan who had planned their entire trip around the show — flights, hotel, everything, and still couldn’t get a ticket. They were messaging us saying they were outside the venue just hoping something would open up. That hit hard. It’s one thing to miss a show, it’s another to go that far and still not get in. That’s when it became clear, we had to come back.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: Knowing it’ll be a long time before you can return to Australia after this album cycle, how does that shape the mindset and intensity you’re bringing to this tour?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: It changes everything. There’s a different weight to these shows. We’re not pacing ourselves thinking, “We’ll be back next year.” This is one of those moments where you empty the tank completely. Every night has to feel like the last time we’ll ever play there, because for a while, it will be.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: You mentioned not wanting fans to wait another five years. What does “making it up to them” look like in terms of performance, setlist, or production?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: It means going bigger in every way we can. A setlist that covers the full spectrum of who we are, the songs people have been holding onto for years, mixed with the new material that’s defining where we’re at right now. Performance wise, it’s about being fully present and giving everything we’ve got. Production wise, we’re doing everything we can to elevate the experience so it feels worth the wait.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: Your last run was described as mayhem: jaw-dropping performances, off-the-hook reviews. What lessons or energy from that tour are you carrying into this one?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: The biggest thing we took away is that Australian crowds don’t need warming up, they’re in it from the first note. That energy pushes you to a different level as a performer. So we’re coming in ready to match that from second one. No slow builds, no holding back, just straight into it.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: The touring cycle for Shapeshifter has been immense! Are you planning to cover that album on this tour?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: Yeah, Shapeshifter is a huge part of this chapter for us, so some of those songs are absolutely going to be in the set. That record means a lot to us, and it’s connected with people in a real way. We want to give those songs their moment live, especially for fans who haven’t had the chance to hear them in person yet.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: Australia has always shown huge love for heavy music. What stands out to you about Australian crowds compared to the rest of the world?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: There’s an intensity that’s hard to describe unless you’ve felt it. It’s not just that they’re loud, it’s how locked in they are. Every lyric, every breakdown, every moment, they’re right there with you. It feels less like you’re playing to them and more like you’re in it with them.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: What are some of your favourite memories of playing in Australia?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: Honestly, it’s all moments where the crowd takes over, when you pull the mic away and they’re louder than the PA. That’s something I’ll never get over. And then just the chaos after the shows, meeting fans, hearing their stories, seeing how far people have come. Those are the moments that stick.
FUTUREMAG MUSIC: With this being your last Australian tour for quite some time, what emotions are you personally bringing into these shows?
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE: Gratitude, first and foremost. There’s a deep appreciation knowing we get to come back and do this again, especially after seeing how many people missed out last time. But there’s also a sense of urgency, like we have something to prove and something to give before we step away for a bit.