"Take On Me": Final Tour

Who can forget a-ha’s seminal 80s track Take On Me and the memorable video with an animated version of the band’s pin-up frontman Morten Harket trapped in a comic book? The hit song reached Number 1 in 27 countries, including the U.S., but who realized that the genetically-blessed synth-poppers continued on way past their 1985 debut, Hunting High And Low, enjoying a successful 25-year career that saw them sell a whopping 35 million records?

That’s right, the Norwegian trio—made up of Harket, Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy—was not exactly a one-hit wonder. Last year they released their ninth studio album to date, Foot Of the Mountain, which went to the Top 5 in the U.K., and now they’re playing their final shows together, exactly 25 years since releasing their memorable debut, on a year-long world-wide Farewell Tour. The tour finds the band playing the U.S. for the first time in 20 years—for what they say will be the very last time.

“We’ve literally lived the ultimate boy’s adventure tale, through a longer, more rewarding career than anyone could hope for,” the band says of their career. “Doing this now will give us a chance to get more involved in other meaningful aspects of life. We are retiring as a band, not as individuals. Change is always difficult and it is easy to get set in one’s ways. Now it is time to move on.”

The guys have influenced a slew of young artists, even prompting Oasis’ bad-boy frontman Liam Gallagher to deem them “f***ing amazing.” The band will perform together for the last time ever in Oslo on December 4th. Catch one of their U.S. shows this week:

05/07:  New York, NY @ Nokia Theater

05/08:  New York, NY @ Nokia Theater

05/10:  Toronto, ONT @ Massey Hall

05/13:  Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theater

05/15:  Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia Live

05/16:  Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia Live