In a spectacular and emotionally charged homecoming, Lady Gaga has finally returned to Australian stages, delivering a breathtaking performance at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium. The pop icon's Mayhem Ball marks her first concert in the country since the artRAVE tour in August 2014, breaking a near-decade-long absence that she has now vowed will not be repeated.
A Gothic Dream of Dance and Defiance
The evening's dictum was set from the moment Gaga arrived on stage atop a dramatic crinoline structure: "Dance or die." This mantra powered a sprawling, 150-minute operatic spectacle she described as her "gothic dream," though its aesthetic leaned heavily into Halloween and Hitchcockian suspense. The stage was populated with skeletons, a likely homage to her late muse, Rick 'Zombie Boy' Genest, as Gaga transformed between blonde and brunette personas with rapid wig changes.
The phrase "dance or die" originates from her track Abracadabra, a pop incantation from her latest album, Mayhem. The record has been hailed as a triumphant return to her avant-garde roots, a form she has fought hard to reclaim. Her journey back has been paved with significant physical and mental challenges, including the chronic pain that developed after she broke her hip on stage in Montreal in 2013 at age 26.
Conquering Pain Through Performance
The shadow of that injury and her subsequent struggles loomed large over the production. In a powerful and poignant segment, Gaga performed the electroclash track Scheiße—the very song she was singing when her hip gave way—alongside classics like Bloody Mary and Judas.
The narrative of perseverance reached its peak in the show's second act. Echoing the iconic chrome armour from her Paparazzi video, Gaga took to the stage with crutches. After shuffling down the runway, she defiantly discarded them, raising her arms to release billowing waves of white chiffon in a moment of profound theatrical irony and self-aggrandisement that left the stadium audience breathless.
A Star Reborn: From Chromatica to Mayhem
For devoted fans, the show was a profound relief. Gaga has openly discussed the psychosis she experienced around the release of her 2020 album Chromatica and revealed she was taking lithium during the filming of A Star Is Born in 2017. She framed the Mayhem Ball as her dignified turning point, a declaration of rediscovered joy and artistic purpose.
This celebratory spirit was palpable. At the piano, she dug deep into her archives to perform Brooklyn Nights, an unreleased demo she hadn't sung since her last Melbourne visit. During the euphoric Garden of Eden, she connected directly with the crowd, singing, "I've been feelin' this familiar feeling, like I've known you my whole life." She later expressed amazement at seeing her fans, now adults, waiting outside the venue: "You were all grown up!"
Some traditions remained gloriously intact. Gaga commanded the audience to "put your hands up" no fewer than 30 times and reaffirmed her unwavering support for her LGBTQ+ fans, projecting pride colours onto her cape and dedicating the entire show to the community. Crucially, she made a heartfelt promise to the Australian crowd: "I'll find a way. I don't give up easily." She assured them she would not let another ten years pass without a return.
The audience, adorned in caution tape, cans, and creative homemade outfits, proved their devotion remains absolute. One thing is clear: with Lady Gaga back in peak form, her fans will be dancing till they're dead. The Mayhem Ball tour continues in Melbourne on 6 December, Brisbane on 9 December, and Sydney on 12-13 December.
