UK SUBS
+ Zombie Met Girl
This is it. All good things must come to an end. After 50 years of punk rock, Charlie has decided to hang up his hat and is playing a handful of final ever shows around the UK. One final stop of course to The Forum.
Lets give him a special send off here at The Forum this March.
Support from Zombie Met Girl.
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That time will eventually arrive and… The U.K. SUBS, after 50 fun-packed, furious, fast-paced FAN-tastic years, are officially calling it a day, in order to pass the torch over to the hundreds of younger punk bands who they’ve hopefully inspired for half a century! Since forming in the summer of 1977, Charlie and the band have stood as the relentless beating heart of British punk rock, outlasting eras, trends, and peers with an unmatched work ethic. Driven by Charlie’s indefatigable energy which forged a fiercely loyal fanbase, the U.K. Subs proved that punk was never a passing phase, but a lifelong commitment…
The U.K. Subs are proud to have played gigs in every single year from 1977. Fact! From the roaring hooks of the debut album Another Kind of Blues the band eventually completed an album for every letter of the alphabet and beyond. What an achievement. The U.K. Subs have played thousands upon thousands of sweaty, high-octane gigs across the globe in venues both small and huge, and in doing so, they’ve truly defined that never-say-die spirit of DIY independence. “Fifty years is one hell of a run, and we want to finish it on our own terms — loud, heavy, and completely undiminished. We are infinitely grateful to all previous members of the band, those behind the scenes who’ve helped keep our show on the road, and especially to every single person who has bought our records or merch, and chatted with us at the bar at a show, we are so grateful to have the best set of fans in the world, so we will see you somewhere on the road for this last hurrah. Let's make our last shows in 2027 historical. It’s going to be emotional!”
Line Up
Incredibly, 2010 marked the fifth decade in which the U.K.Subs had continually graced the Punk Rock scene. Inspired by the Damned at the birth of British Punk, the now equally legendary Charlie Harper formed the Subs out of his then R&B outfit The Marauders, late in 1976.
Starting out as The Subversives, the name was shortened to The Subs and then changed to U.K.Subs, with the prefix taken from the first Sex Pistols single Anarchy In The U.K.
October 1977 saw Charlie joined by Nicky Garratt on guitar, and it was the Harper/Garratt song writing partnership that would go on to collaborate on what is recognised as the band's most revered work. Through 1977 and 1978 the band played shows all over London including the infamous Roxy punk club, building up a fiercely loyal and sizeable following. Their first ‘recorded’ output was on the Farewell To The Roxy LP.
This bought them to the attention of John Peel who was obviously impressed enough to offer to finance their first single. However, City Records ended up releasing their first brilliant single, C.I.D, in September 1978. It became a huge indie number 1 hit. In 1979, they signed to Gem Records via RCA and surprised everyone by becoming one of the most consistently and visibly successful punk bands, with seven consecutive UK Top 30 hits between 1979-81 (Stranglehold, Tomorrows Girls, She's Not There, Warhead, Teenage, Party In Paris and Keep On Running). They also scored two UK top ten albums (Brand New Age and Crash Course), establishing themselves throughout the world with a heavy touring schedule that still continues to this day.
Led by the indefatigable Charlie Harper (now venerated as the godfather of UK punk) the band has continued and thrived, through various line-ups and record companies. 2010 saw the band record their stunning ‘Work In Progress’ album, as they neared their quest to be the first band to release their official albums alphabetically A to Z!
Touring worldwide for 35 plus years, they maintain and pioneer the true spirit of punk rock, without the compromise and watering-down that has affected so many of their contemporaries. There has never been any division of fan and band with the Subs, and Charlie’s unrelenting love of his audience and music shines through. This is something that galvanized listeners of Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6music show to hoist the band high as the most respected of Punk ‘icons’, to win the 2010 Punk World Cup.
2013 saw the eagerly anticipated new double album XXIV released on Captain Oi! Records to a crescendo of critical acclaim. The touring regime has continued apace this year with dates worldwide as the band continues to entertain and amaze with their powerful live shows.
Like a vintage wine – the U.K.Subs just get better and better.
[Bio by Mark Chadderton]
