Legendary punk bassist and founder of the Minutemen, Dos and Firehose Mike Watt yesterday kicked off the UK stretch of his third opera, hyphenated-man. This is the second chance to catch Watts’ self-confessed “forty five minute song in thirty little parts” about a “middle-age punk rocker”. Watts decided to bring the tour back to Europe because he believed his last jaunt this side of the Atlantic (in 2011) was “too tiny”. Previously they played 23 gigs, this time round it’ll be a total of 58.

Explaining the opera, Watts told the Quietus: “I used both Hieronymous Bosch characters from his paintings and Dorothy's perspective in the Wizard of Oz film for imagery to help with the metaphors so it ain't no tired-ass bunk drama but rather like a wheel spinning - in that way it's different than my first two operas because there's no beginning-middle-end”.

Watt and co travel to Exeter tomorrow and culminate the tour at London’s The Lexington 19 April. Visit Watts’ homepage for further touring details, and check out his recent Baker’s Dozen here.

Mike Watt and the Missingmen live dates 2014 APRIL 10 - The Cavern, Exeter
11 - The Fleece, Bristol
12 - The Cookie Jar, Leicester
13 - The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
14 - Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
15 - Broadcast, Glasgow
16 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
17 - The Harley, Sheffield
18 - The Joiners, Southampton
19 - The Lexington, London