Lady Gaga made a triumphant return to Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on Thursday night, marking her first Australian show in a decade. The pop star, known for her theatrical performances, delivered a 150-minute operatic spectacle that she described as her 'gothic dream'. The show, titled The Mayhem Ball, featured elaborate costumes, skeleton motifs, and a mix of hits from her career.
Gaga opened the concert atop a crinoline structure resembling a red velvet cake, declaring 'Dance or die' — a line from her recent single Abracadabra. The setlist included fan favourites like Bloody Mary and Judas, as well as a surprise performance of the unreleased demo Brooklyn Nights, which she had not sung since her last Melbourne show.
The performance came after years of physical and mental health struggles for the singer. Gaga broke her hip during a 2013 Montreal show and has since dealt with chronic pain. She also revealed that she experienced psychosis around the release of her 2020 album Chromatica and took lithium while filming A Star Is Born in 2017. She described her latest album, Mayhem, as a dignified turning point.
During the concert, Gaga used crutches in one segment before discarding them, a moment that left the audience breathless. She also paid tribute to her queer fanbase, dedicating the show to the community that has supported her from the start. 'I'll find a way. I don't give up easily,' she promised Australian fans, vowing not to let another decade pass without a visit.
The Mayhem Ball continues in Melbourne on 6 December, followed by Brisbane on 9 December and Sydney on 12-13 December.
