KEY POINTS:
The year just got darker and more spooky. First, we get the Cure, and now modern day goths My Chemical Romance, and the Clown Prince of darkness, Marilyn Manson, announce shows here.
My Chem - as their legions of fans know them - played a patchy set at the Big Day Out in January that was mostly because of the shonky sound system. On December 6, at Auckland's Vector Arena, they get a second chance to be back in black so you'd better be ready to rock.
Since the release of their third album, The Black Parade, the band have gone from Emo favourites - a label they openly despise - to one of mainstream rock's biggest bands.
Meanwhile, to celebrate the release of his sixth album, Eat Me, Drink Me, Marilyn Manson plays the Auckland Town Hall on October 3.
While Manson is more widely known nowadays for his love life, one suspects he can still put on a great show.
Also at the town hall, on October 14, are American post-grunge rockers Hinder whom you might remember from hits Get Stoned and Lips of an Angel from their 2005 debut album Extreme Behaviour.
To lighten things up the Beach Boys play New Plymouth's TSB Stadium on November 17 and Vector Arena on November 18. Now, before you get excited about mad genius Brian Wilson returning to New Zealand, this is the Beach Boys lineup with Mike Love as singer.
But hey, you can still hear all the hits, like Barbara Ann, Kokomo, and Surfin' USA.
In support is singer Christopher Cross. Remember him? You know, the guy who sang Sailing? No, not Sailing Away. That was by All Of Us, remember?
Lastly, and the most mad of all, are American noise-rock-experimentalists Battles who play the Kings Arms on September 21 and at Wellington's San Francisco Bath House the following night.
Their new album, Mirrored, is a mind-altering masterpiece so it should be one crazy show.
Plus for those of you who missed out on Ryan Adams tickets, there is a second show at the Bruce Mason Centre on August 15.
