Placebo Announces RE:CREATED: A Reimagined Debut Album and Major Tour

Placebo is revisiting the album that launched their career, announcing Placebo RE:CREATED—a newly reworked version of their 1996 debut—which arrives on June 19. The original Placebo album landed at the height of Britpop but cut sharply against the grain. While the charts were dominated by swaggering nostalgia, Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal explored androgyny, queerness, addiction, and alienation with a candour that made them instant outliers.

A Cult Classic Reborn

Their debut quickly became a cult favourite, helped along by breakthrough singles Nancy Boy and 36 Degrees, and set the tone for a band who would spend the next three decades refusing to fit neatly into any scene. Three decades later, the duo have gone back to the master tapes to create what they describe as a 'director’s cut' of the record.

Rather than a full remake, Placebo RE:CREATED captures how the songs have evolved after years on the road, adding new layers and detail while keeping the jagged, provocative energy that defined the originals. The updated tracklist includes all ten songs from the debut plus two bonus tracks from the era.

Tracklist for Placebo RE:CREATED

Come Home
Teenage Angst
Bionic
36 Degrees
Hang On To Your IQ
Nancy Boy
I Know
Bruise Pristine
Lady of the Flowers
Swallow
Drowning By Numbers
H.K. Farewell

Band's Vision and Process

Speaking about the project, the band said the new versions reflect '30 years of playing these songs live,' adding that the aim was to 'drag [the album] into the 21st century sonically' without losing the spirit of the 1996 release. They described the process as 'a celebration of where we began' and 'a meeting point between who we were then and who we are now.'

Major UK and European Arena Tour

To mark the anniversary, Placebo will also head out on a major UK and European arena tour later this year. The run will focus on material from their first two albums—Placebo and Without You I’m Nothing—including songs that haven’t appeared in their setlists for more than 20 years.

The tour begins in Portugal on September 28, before travelling across Europe and wrapping up in the UK, with 36 dates expected to draw huge crowds. Before the tour kicks off, the band will perform at the Teenage Cancer Trust concert series at London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 28, appearing alongside Garbage at the invitation of The Cure’s Robert Smith.

Tour Dates Overview

March 28th - London Royal Albert Hall - Teenage Cancer Trust
April 11th - Switzerland - Zermatt Unplugged
28th - Oporto, Portugal - Super Bock Arena
29th - Lisbon, Portugal - Sagres Campo Pequeno
1st - Madrid, Spain - Movistar Arena (The Ring)
3rd - Barcelona, Spain - St. Jordi Club
5th - Toulouse, France - Zenith
7th - Nantes, France - Zenith
9th - Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
12th - Leipzig, Germany - Quarterback Immobilien Arena
15th - Vilnius, Lithuania - Twinsbet Arena
16th - Riga, Latvia - Xiaomi Arēna
18th - Helsinki, Finland - Veikkaus Arena
20th - Stockholm, Sweden - Annexet
22nd - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
24th - Copenhagen, Denmark - KB Hall
26th - Hamburg, Germany - Barclays Arena
27th - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
29th - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle
1st - Antwerp, Belgium - Afas Dome
2nd - Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
4th - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion
6th - Milan, Italy - Unipol Forum
9th - Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
10th - Vienna, Austria - Stadthalle
13th - Budapest, Hungary - Budapest Arena
15th - Prague, Czech Republic - Fortuna Sports Hall
16th - Berlin, Germany - Uber Arena
18th - Lodz, Poland - Atlas Arena
21st - Stuttgart, Germany - Hans-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
23rd - Lyon, France - LDLC Arena
25th - Paris, France - Accor Arena
28th - Nottingham, UK - NIC Arena
30th - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
2nd - Dublin, Ireland - 3 Arena
4th - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live Arena
5th - London, UK - OVO Wembley Arena
7th - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena

Availability and Formats

Placebo RE:CREATED is available to pre-order across multiple formats, including CD, cassette, a box set, and several vinyl editions. This release and tour mark a significant milestone for the band, celebrating their enduring legacy and innovative spirit in the music industry.