Ryan Adams in 2025: Turbulent Australia–New Zealand Tour, “No More Overseas,” and What Comes Next

Singer–songwriter Ryan Adams closed a chaotic run of shows across Australia and New Zealand this week, telling crowds and followers he’s finished with international touring after a string of erratic performances, mid-show exits, and online blowups. As of October 21, 2025, he’s back home, with fans and promoters parsing what the outbursts mean for any future live plans beyond North America.

The October spiral: walk-offs, rants, apologies

What began as a compact solo tour veered off course almost immediately:

• Melbourne, Oct 12: The show ended abruptly after Adams left the stage, later citing camera flashes and health issues for the stoppage.

• New Zealand dates, Oct 18–19: Reviews and attendee accounts described strong musical passages undercut by rambling between-song monologues, false starts, and tense exchanges with the audience.

• Social media whiplash: Posts swung from gratitude to accusations and back—at times lashing out at local culture, then pivoting to apologies that referenced illness, exhaustion, and a bruised sternum/chest cold.

By the start of this week, he framed the run as a final overseas outing, telling fans, “I might not see you again,” while promising to keep releasing records and books.

“Worst people” and a deleted post

The backlash peaked when Adams published—and quickly deleted—a screed labeling Australians the “worst people” and the country the “worst to play,” alongside claims that locals imitate American and UK culture. The post intensified criticism already building from walkouts and uneven sets. Within hours, he softened the tone, attributing behavior to health complications and fatigue and saying he intended no disrespect, but the damage was done: the clip-and-share cycle cemented the week as a PR disaster.

Health claims vs. fan experience

Adams pointed to Meniere’s disease sensitivities, illness, and cumulative travel strain as triggers for the volatility. Some in the audience expressed sympathy; others countered that professional boundaries—no rants, no walk-offs—are baseline obligations regardless of condition. The split reaction mirrors his post-2019 career: sustained creative output and pockets of devoted supporters set against persistent questions about reliability and accountability.

Key tension points

• Artistry vs. delivery: When the songs landed, they reportedly landed hard—deep catalog cuts, a full-album set piece, and moments of the old, hushed control.

• Trust erosion: Fans paying premium prices expect emotional candor, not combustible unpredictability. Repeated “last tour” hints followed by reversals have widened the credibility gap.

• Venue optics: House rules on flash photography, late starts, and encore etiquette became flashpoints, inflaming an already edgy room.

Will Ryan Adams really stop touring overseas?

He’s vowed to quit international runs before—and returned. This time, the calculus looks different:

• Demand concentration: His most reliable markets are closer to home, where routing is cheaper, familiar crews are available, and recovery time is manageable.

• Promoter hesitancy: After this month, risk premiums rise—higher deposits, stricter performance clauses, and contingency language are likely prerequisites.

• Creative pivot: Adams emphasized studio work and publishing; a domestic tour of shorter, tightly scheduled legs could support releases without the strain of long-haul flights.

A full pullback from overseas is plausible in the near term, with select festival or one-off exceptions only if bulletproof conditions are in place.

Context: the longer shadow from 2019

The present storm doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Fallout from 2019 misconduct allegations reset Adams’ mainstream profile, reduced label and media infrastructure, and pushed him toward a DIY, volume-driven model—frequent releases, direct-to-fan sales, and self-organized tours. That approach offers creative freedom but less insulation when shows wobble or controversies flare. This October’s turbulence underscores how thin that margin can be.

What fans should watch now

• Release cadence: He has flagged ongoing albums and book projects; expect studio announcements before any live news.

• Domestic routing: If he plays live, look for regional mini-runs with long off-days, smaller rooms, and strict photo policies.

• Policy shifts at shows: Venues may enforce zero-flash and late-entry protocols and post clearer refund/partial-refund language after truncated sets.

• Communication tone: Whether his channels stabilize—fewer late-night tirades, more focused updates—will be an early indicator of genuine reset.

The Ryan Adams story in October 2025 is a collision of undeniable musical craft and self-inflicted turbulence. A bruising Australia–New Zealand stretch culminated in a vow to stop international touring, public rancor, and fresh doubts about reliability on stage. If there’s a path forward, it likely runs through the studio—and, when live, closer to home—under conditions that protect both the performance and the audience from a repeat of this month’s meltdown.