Human Nature to return to Las Vegas without Phil Burton

The iconic Australian pop-vocal group reveal that a big change is in the works.

When the Australian pop-vocal group Human Nature return to Las Vegas they’ll be one man down – permanently.

Band member Phil Burton has decided to move back to Sydney, while the remaining members are hoping to re-start their careers in Vegas next year.

“I made a family decision,” Burton tells Stellar On Friday.

“Las Vegas was a fantastic experience but it was time to come home. It was a hard decision. I hope the guys do really well with a new show. As far as Australia goes, when there are opportunities to play, they’ll fly here and I’ll jump back on board, and it will be the four of us as always.”

“I’m definitely not leaving the band, but I haven’t had time to think about what I’ll do next.” (Picture: Steven Chee)

Burton told his bandmates he wanted to move back to Australia before COVID, and the pandemic only confirmed his decision, especially after they returned as a group last December following the end of their residency due to the virus.

“COVID put things in stark reality – where do you want to be? Where do you feel at home? And Australia is where we felt the most safe as a family. I’m definitely not leaving the band, but I haven’t had time to think about what I’ll do next.”

Bandmate Toby Allen says he and fellow bandmates Andrew and Michael Tierney are keen to return to their homes in Vegas and find a new casino residency in the city, where they have played regularly for the past 11 years.

“There will have to be some reshuffling,” Allen says of figuring out how to perform as a trio.

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“We can’t take out every song Phil sang – there are some key songs there. We’ve started throwing around some ideas. I’d assume we’ll tour Australia with Phil; Australia has grown up with us as a four-piece. But we won’t get a feeling of what it’s like to work as a three-piece until we’ve lived through it.”

The group have just released their first fully-original release in 17 years, the Good Good Life EP, which features a song with Guy Sebastian. They’re now on an extensive tour of regional Australia, and will head to capital cities in August and September.

“We’ve been lucky to perform at 100 per cent capacity venues regionally,” Burton says.

“We’re very grateful for that; we know it could change in an instant.”

For tour dates and information, visit humannaturelive.com