John Watts: "The Worker" solo acoustic 2 Meter Session

Watch John Watts perform a solo acoustic rendition of The Worker for Dutch show 2 Meter Sessies. He is part of the line-up of a show @ Bostheater in Ommen on August 29, sharing the bill with The Prodigal Sons. He takes his New Wave band Fischer-Z on tour again in the Fall to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 12 - "No Bohemia' & "Cuban Rain Falling"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 12 John Watts looks back on the recording of the Swimming In Thunderstorms and Til The Oceans Overflow albums. Special attention for the No Bohemia and Cuban Rain Falling songs. And he discusses the new album X-Ray Serenade once again, which is due for release on September 4th 2026.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 11 - "World Go Round' & "Damascus Disco"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 11 John Watts looks back on the recording of the This is My Universe and Building Bridges albums. Special attention for the World Go Round and Damascus Disco songs. And he discusses the new album X-Ray Serenade once again, which is due for release on September 4th 2026.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 10 - "Heart of New York' & "Perfect Timing"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 10 John Watts looks back on the recording of the Morethanmusic album. Special attention for the Heart of New York and Perfect Timing songs. And he discusses the new album X-Ray Serenade, due for release on September 4th 2026.

Fischer-Z: live @ Ancienne Belgique in Brussels

Watch English New Wave band Fischer-Z perform @ Ancienne Belgique in Brussels om May 3, as part of their 50th anniversary tour.

Setlist:

1. Pretty Paracetamol
2. Wax Dolls
3. Remember Russia
4. The Worker
5. Angel of Gardenia
6. Marguerite
7. Well Meaning Ghost
8. So Long (ballad version)
9. The Perfect Day
10. Tightrope
11. Choose
12. Red Skies Over Paradise
13. Cruise Missiles
14. Battalions of Strangers
15. Damascus Disco
16. When Love Goes Wrong
17. One Voice
18. Head On

Encore:

1. Marliese
2. So Long (normal version)

» fischer-z.com

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 9 - "Zydeco' & "Brothers"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 9 John Watts looks back on the recording of the Real Life is Good Enough and It Has To Be albums. Special attention for the Zydeco and Brothers songs.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 8 - "BigBeatPoetry" & "Promenaders"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 8 John Watts looks back on the recording of the BigBeatPoetry and Ether albums, and his collaboration German DJ Ingo Wörner. Special attention for the BigBeatPoetry and Promenaders songs.

Fischer-Z: new single "Strings"; on tour in Austria in 2027

New Wave band Fischer-Z will release a new album, X-Ray Serenade, on September 4. Lead single Strings has all their signature bits: an instantly hummable melody and lyrics that dig deep. John Watts explains:

Strings is a pop song about consequence. It’s about wrestling with the trials and tribulations of living. In an era when facts and truth are no longer in fashion, especially in the political arena, the fact that “Life has strings” is particularly relevant! Whatever you do, comes back to you!’

The video featuring aerial performer Ruby LeStrange was filmed at St Paul's in Bristol, where he was once was a choir boy.

Strings is released via Cherry Red.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 7 - "Protection" & "Angel of Gardinia"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 7 John Watts looks back on the recording of the Stream and 13 Stories High albums, with special attention for Protection and Angel of Gardinia.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 6 - "Further From Love'" & "Human Beings'"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 6 John Watts looks back on the recording of the Destination Paradise and Kamikaze Shirt albums, with special attention for Further From Love (still a live favourite today) and Human Beings.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 5 - "The Perfect Day" & "Say No'"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 5 John Watts discusses bringing back the band after the demise of The Cry. He looks back on the recording of the Reveal and Fish Head albums, with special attention for The Perfect Day and Say No, his favourite songs from that period.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 4 - "I Need You"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 4 John Watts discusses his solo albums and the start of his new band The Cry. The reformation of Fischer-Z will be covered in the next podcast, which goed live on March 6.

Fischer-Z: three extra shows in The Netherlands

New Wave band Fischer-Z have announced three extra shows in The Netherlands as part of their 50th anniversary tour:

Live dates:

• 09/23 Podium Victorie, Alkmaar
• 11/07 Paard, Den Haag
• 11/08 Doornroosje, Nijmegen

» fischer-z.com

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 3 - "One More Twist"

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 3 John Watts discusses the aftermath of the release of the Red Skies Over Paradise album, and going solo with One More Twist in 1982. He had to do all of the band stuff himself around that time anyway, so going out on his own made perfect sense then.

Fischer-Z: on tour in Australia

New Wave band Fischer-Z have announced their first ever shows in Australia as part of their 50th anniversary tour:

Some of you have been with these songs since So Long, The Perfect Day and beyond — and despite never having toured your country, Australia has always been one of our strongest and most passionate listeners. That connection has never gone unnoticed.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 2 - "So Long", "Berlin" and the breakup on stage in Italy

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 2 John Watts discusses the writing of So Long and Berlin, and dissolving the band in 1981 on stage in Italy.

The Fischer-Z Podcast: Episode 1 - The Story of 'Pretty Paracetamol' and interview with Steve Skolnik

New Wave band Fischer-Z have launched a podcast to tie in with their 50th anniversary. In Episode 1 John Watts discusses the process of picking his 24 favourite songs plus an interview with keyboard player Steve Skolnik. The featured song is Pretty Paracetamol from the World Salad album.

Fischer-Z: Punkt! Gallerie tour; 50th anniversary shows in Germany

John Watts will be playing in galleries in Germany to promote the release of the new Fischer-Z album Punkt!. He will playing a 40 minute acoustic set and visitors can have a look at a short film and ten art pieces:

• 09/22 Hamburg @ Galerie Stadtlandkunst
• 09/23 Frankfurt @ Massif Central
• 09/24 Munich @ Pasinger Fabrik
• 09/26 Erdmannhausen (Stuttgart) @ Rathausgalerie
• 09/27 Kaarst @ Düsseldorf @ Kulturscheune
• 09/28 Bonn @ Kulturcafe Eiszeit - Sold Out
• 09/29 Essen @ S-Art Galerie
• 10/01 Berlin @ Kunstgalerie Bunker West
• 10/02 Hamburg @ Galerie Stadtlandkunst

John Watts & Katie Freudenschuss: "No Bohemia" live video

Watch John Watts and Katie Freudenschuss perform No Bohemia at the Ebertbad in Oberhausen, Germany on March 26, 2025.

» fischer-z.com
» katiefreudenschuss.de

Fischer-Z: 50th anniversary shows

English New Wave band Fischer-Z will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2026:

2026 is a big one for Fischer-Z. 50 years since the band formed was formed in Brunel university with Steve Skolnik. The band will play an extensive anniversary tour in Spring and Autumn 2026. We are working on booking shows in the following countries: Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Portugal, Australia and the UK.

The first three shows in May next year have been confirmed. More dates TBA.

Live dates:

• 05/02 Antwerp, Belgium @ De Roma
• 05/03 Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique
• 05/08 Utrecht, Netherlands @ TivoliVredenburg

Tickets go on sale on June 13 @ 10.00 CET.

» fischer-z.com