Get ready to groove all the way down memory lane as TLC, the iconic American girl group, spills the beans on their 2024 CrazySexyCool 30th Anniversary Australia and New Zealand Tour Dates. The sensational tour, backed by iHeartRadio, promises to kick off the party on February 29 at Trusts Arena Auckland, setting the stage on fire until the grand finale at RAC Arena Perth on March 9.
TLC Crazysexycool 30th Anniversary Tour
- Trusts Arena, Auckland – Thursday, February 29
- Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne – Saturday, March 2
- Entertainment Centre, Adelaide – Sunday, March 3
- Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – Tuesday, March 5
- Entertainment Centre, Brisbane – Thursday, March 7
- Rac Arena, Perth – Saturday, March 9
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TLC’s leading ladies, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, are geared up to perform hits from their 1994 Diamond-certified album, marking three decades since its release. But that’s not all – brace yourself for a blast from the past with ’90s themed shows featuring fan interaction, throwback fashion, and a bag of surprises. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, special guests Busta Rhymes and En Vogue are joining the party.
Chilli herself couldn’t contain her excitement, stating, “I’m so excited to return to Australia! This is the album that put us on the map with Aussie fans and showed the world who we really are. And to mark 30 years, this will be quite the celebration!”
CrazySexyCool, TLC’s second studio album, boasts chart-topping hits like “Waterfalls” and “Creep” and received a Diamond certification from the RIAA. Down under, the album skyrocketed, reaching the top 5 and lingering in the top 100 for a whopping 76 weeks with sales hitting double platinum.
With over 85 million records sold worldwide, TLC isn’t just the best-selling American girl group; they’re a powerhouse with 4 Grammy Awards, 4 multi-platinum albums (two of which went Diamond), four number one singles, and ten Top 10 singles. Their influence spans pop, hip-hop, R&B, fashion, and female empowerment. In 2017, TLC made a triumphant return with a self-titled album, hitting #1 on Billboard’s Independent Album Chart.
For those eager to dive deep into the TLC journey, a two-hour documentary titled “Biography: TLC” premiered in 2022, offering an emotional glimpse into the group’s survival against all odds. Directed by Matt Kay and executive-produced by the likes of Academy Award-winning Roger Ross Williams and TLC’s own Tionne Watkins, Rozonda Thomas, and Bill Diggins, this documentary is a must-watch.
Partner pre-sale begins Monday, December 4 at 11 am, running for 48 hours. Live Nation pre-sale: Wednesday, December 6 at 1 pm, – Thursday, December 7 at 12 pm. General public tickets go on sale on Thursday, December 7 at 1 pm (All times local).
The curious history of TLC
TLC, an American girl group, was formed in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The group’s best-known line-up was composed of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas1. They enjoyed immense success during the 1990s, with nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles: “Creep”, “Waterfalls”, “No Scrubs”, and “Unpretty”.
The group was initially formed as “2nd Nature” in 1990 by Crystal Jones, who envisioned a girl group with a tomboyish, hip-hop image. Jones was soon joined by Tionne Watkins and Lisa Lopes. However, Jones was later replaced by Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and the group was renamed TLC to reflect their initials.
TLC quickly gained an audience due to the powerful messages found within their lyrics and captivating beats that were unlike anything else at the time. Their debut album, “Ooooooohhh… On the TLC Tip,” was released in 1992 to critical acclaim, selling over eight million copies worldwide. With hit singles like “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg” and “What About Your Friends” that climbed the Billboard charts, it’s no surprise why their first album went platinum five times over.
Their second studio album, “CrazySexyCool,” released in 1994, sold 11 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums by an all-female group ever. Their fourth single off this album, “Waterfalls,” reached number one on both US pop and R&B charts, cementing them as global superstars.
Legacy and influence
TLC has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group of all time. VH1 ranked TLC as the greatest female group, placing them at number 12 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music. Billboard magazine ranked TLC as one of the greatest musical trios, as well as the seventh-most-successful act of the 1990s.
The group’s accolades include four career Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and five Soul Train Music Awards. Twenty years after their debut, TLC was honoured with an award called Outstanding Contribution to Music at the 17th MOBO Awards and with the Legend Award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
Following Lopes’s death in 2002, instead of replacing her, the remaining members chose to continue as a duo. In 2017, they released their eponymous fifth album, “TLC”. In 2022, the group was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
TLC’s influence can still be felt today – from modern-day girl groups following in their footsteps to fans embracing their timeless classics3. The remarkable story of these trailblazing women who shook up the industry and made an unforgettable mark in our hearts will forever be remembered.
Life after Lisa Left Eye Lopez
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, a member of the music group TLC, tragically died in a car accident on April 25, 2002. The accident occurred while she was filming a documentary in Honduras. She was driving a Mitsubishi Montero SUV and traveling from La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula when she lost control of the vehicle. It was a devastating loss for the music industry and her fans worldwide. Her contributions to music and her unique style continue to be celebrated today.
Huge support acts: En Vogue
En Vogue, an American R&B female group, was formed in Oakland, California in 1989. The original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. They are known for their powerful vocal harmonies, unforgettable choreography, and fashion sense.
Their debut album, “Born to Sing,” was released in 1990, featuring the hit single “Hold On” which reached No. 2 on the US Hot 1001. The group’s 1992 follow-up album, “Funky Divas,” reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and included their second US number two hit “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”.
In 1996, “Don’t Let Go (Love)” became the group’s third, and most successful single, to reach number two in the US, and became their sixth number one on the US R&B chart. Robinson left the group in 1997 shortly before the release of their third album EV3. Jones left the group in 2001, and Rhona Bennett joined the group during the recording of their album Soul Flower.
En Vogue has sold 20 million records worldwide. The group has won seven MTV Video Music Awards, three Soul Train Awards, two American Music Awards, and received seven Grammy nominations. In December 1999, Billboard magazine ranked the band as the 19th most successful recording artist of the 1990s.
Busta Rhymes
Born as Trevor George Smith Jr. on May 20, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York City, Busta Rhymes is a renowned American rapper, singer, musician, record producer, record executive, and actor. His parents, Geraldine Green and Trevor Smith Sr., were both from Jamaica. At age 12, he moved to Uniondale, Long Island, and later spent time in Liverpool and Morecambe, England, before returning to the United States.
Busta Rhymes’ stage name was given to him by Chuck D of Public Enemy, inspired by NFL and CFL wide receiver George “Buster” Rhymes. He is best known for his outlandish style and fashion sense, as well as his intricate rhyming technique, rapping at high speed with heavy use of internal rhyme and half rhyme.
Rhymes was an original member of the East Coast hip hop group Leaders of the New School. The group gained national attention when they opened on tour for Public Enemy. Rhymes later founded the record label Conglomerate (initially Flipmode Entertainment) and the production crew The Conglomerate (formerly Flipmode Squad).
His solo debut album, “The Coming,” was released in 1996 and reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 album chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and earned him a Grammy nomination. He has released ten total solo albums, with the most recent being 2020’s “Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God”.
Busta Rhymes’ list of hit singles include “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check”, “It’s a Party”, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See”, “Dangerous”, “Turn It Up” (Remix)/“Fire It Up”, “Gimme Some More”, “What’s It Gonna Be?”, “Pass the Courvoisier, Part II”, “I Know What You Want” and “Touch It”.
Despite receiving 12 Grammy Award nominations, Rhymes has yet to win, making him one of the most-nominated artists without winning. However, his contributions to the music industry have been recognized by various entities. About.com included him on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), and Steve Huey of AllMusic called him one of the best and most prolific rappers of the 1990s. In 2012, The Source placed him on its list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time12. MTV has called him “one of hip-hop’s greatest visual artists”.
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