The Church Revisits ‘Blurred Crusade’ Downunder

While The Church celebrates its 35th year with world dates promoting the band’s 25th studio album, Further/Deeper, its changing the format for home market fans.

Photo: Robb D. Cohen
Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse.

The seven club dates July 3-18 will include a live rendition of the band’s sophomore 1982 album The Blurred Crusade. The Parlophone/EMI set reached No. 10 in Australia and sold enough in Europe and the UK for a tour with Duran Duran.

But Capitol in North America refused to release it, citing a lack of radio-friendly material. When the band sent the label five new demos, Capitol dropped them.

Frontman and main songwriter Steve Kilbey stands by the album. He says, “The Blurred Crusade was where The Church turned into themselves.

Lushly produced by Bob Clearmountain, this album is obviously one of our early highlights and still remarkably sounds fresh 33 years later.” Before the Aussie dates, The Church is set for a seven-date run through Europe, opening May 29 at Barcelona’s festival.