U.K. Subs

U.K. Subs

UK Subs performing in 2007
Background information
Origin London, England
Genres Punk rock, hardcore punk, street punk, Oi!
Years active 1976–present
Labels New Red Archives, Captain Oi!, Fallout, Time & Matter Recordings, Diablo Records, RCA, Punkerama Records
Associated acts Urban Dogs, The Damned, Rancid, The Flying Padovanis, King Kurt
Website UK Subs Official Website
Members Charlie Harper
Jet
Jamie Oliver
Alvin Gibbs
Past members Nicky Garratt
Steve Slack
Terry Bones
Gregor Kramer
Jacek Ostoya
Pete Davies
David Ayer
Alan Campbell
Rory Lyons
Belvy K
Matthew McCoy
Steve Roberts
Brian Barnes
Tony Gannon
Paul Slack
Chema Zurita
Jason Willer />Mal Asling
Benjie Bollox
Rab Fae Beith
Eric Baconstrip
Sarah Copson

The U.K. Subs are an English punk band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk.[1] Formed in 1976,[2] the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.

Career

The U.K. Subs were part of the original punk movement in England. The band formed in 1976, initially using the name the Subversives.[2] The band's founder, Charlie Harper selected guitarist Nicky Garratt, bassist Paul Slack, and various drummers (eventually Pete Davis became fairly stable) under the initial name "U.K. Subversives".[3] The London-based band's early line-up changed frequently.

Their style combined the energy of punk and the rock and roll edge of the then thriving pub rock scene. The band had hit singles such as "Stranglehold", "Warhead", "Teenage", and "Tomorrow's Girls", with several of their songs managing to enter the United Kingdom's Top Forty.

The band played several John Peel sessions in 1977 and 1978 for BBC Radio 1,[1] and played some opening gigs for The Police, and recorded a set at The Roxy (a punk club), which was issued in 1980 as Live Kicks. They signed a recording contract with GEM Records in May 1979.[1] Under GEM, the U.K. Subs recorded their most successful studio albums, Another Kind of Blues and Brand New Age. Their biggest selling album came with 1980s Crash Course. Crash Course was recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London on 30 May 1980 during the Brand New Age tour.

In 1979 Julien Temple wrote and directed a short film Punk Can Take It, a parody of wartime documentaries, that consisted mainly of the U.K.Subs playing live on stage.[4] The film was released theatrically.[5]

In the 1980s with the addition of the new bassist Alvin Gibbs and drummer Steve Roberts, the songs took on a more heavy metal-influenced edge. In July 1982, they became the first western band to perform in Poland since the imposition of martial law, and the suppression of the trade union, Solidarity.[6] Their concert was held in Gdańsk, and they were supported by Brygada Kryzys.[7] In 1991, the U.K. Subs also had Lars Frederiksen (now of Rancid) on guitar for a 30 date UK tour. Decades after the disbanding of other late-1970s punk groups such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash, the U.K. Subs continue to perform.

Successive U.K. Subs album titles start with consecutive letters of the alphabet, and the band announced on 24 October 2015 via their Facebook page, that the 26th album starting with the letter "Z" would be their last long playing record, although they would continue to release EP's. The band intend to fund the final album through Crowdfunding site Pledge Music, the official start date for their pledge campaign is 1 November 2015.[8] The U.K. Subs song "Down on the Farm" was covered by Guns N' Roses on their 1993 covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?". The U.K. Subs joined the bill for the 2006 Fiend Fest. The band have toured with The Misfits, The Adicts, Osaka Popstar, Agent Orange, and The Ramones. The U.K. Subs song "Warhead" is played in the movie, This Is England. U.K. Subs are one of the regular bands to play the Rebellion Festival nearly every year since its origins as The Holidays In The Sun Festival in 1996.

In 2007, drummer Jamie Oliver was a contestant on the UK quiz show Nothing But the Truth. Vocalist Charlie Harper was among the panel of witnesses. Oliver reached the £5000 mark, but lost it all in a bid to double his winnings.

In recent years, the band's work has been critical of British politician Nick Clegg, with the 2013 song Coalition Government Blues describing the Liberal Democrats' leader as "liking his perks". The band's 2015 album Yellow Leader was widely suspected of referring to Clegg, with yellow being the official colour of his political party.

Band members

 

Lead vocals

  • Charlie Harper (1976–present)
  • Paul Slack (on "She's Not There")
  • Alvin Gibbs (on "Living Dead", "Shipwrecked", "Drag Me Down", "No Heart", "Holy Land", "Guru", "Bordeaux Red", "Black Power Salute", "Stare at the Sun", "Thunders in the Rain", "Angel of Eighth Avenue", "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", "Disclosure")
  • Nicky Garratt (on "The Enemy Awaits", "Planet I", "Fear To Go", "Never Say You Won't", "Killing Time")
  • Andy F (on "Bathroom Messiah")
  • James Moncur (on "Blinding Stories")
  • Pete Davies (on "Space Patrol")

Guitars

  • Richard Anderson (1976–77)
  • Darrell Barth (1986–87, 1989–91, 1999)
  • Greg Brown (Autumn 1977)
  • Alan Campbell (1992–2004)
  • Lars Frederiksen (1991)
  • Nicky Garratt (1977–1983, 1988, 1996, 1999–2002, 2004-2010)
  • Robbie Harper (1977)
  • Jet (2005–2016)
  • Knox (1987)
  • Alan Lee (1987–89)
  • Simon Rankin (2001)
  • Andy McCoy (1988)
  • Jim Moncur (1984–1987)
  • Karl Morris (1991, 1994)
  • Phil Pain (1996)
  • Tezz Roberts (1984–85, 1995, 2002)
  • Captain Scarlet (David Lloyd) (1983–1984)
  • Scott Snowden (1992)
  • Tim Britta (1984)
  • Johan (1991)
  • Peter 'Goldblade' Byrchmore (2006)
  • Steve Straughan (2016 - )

Bass guitar

  • Paul Slack (1977–1981, 2008–2010)
  • Alvin Gibbs (1980–1983, 1988, 1996, 1999–2002, 2003–present)
  • Chema Zurita (2007–present)
  • Flea (Dave Farrelly) (1987–91)
  • John Armitage (1984–1985)
  • Brian Barnes (1992–1994, 1996–2001, 2002–2004, 2008)
  • Mark Barratt (1986–1987)
  • Bones (2002)
  • Allistair Chesters (2002–2007)
  • Andy Frantic (1997–99)
  • Ricky McGuire (1985–1986)
  • Simon Rankin (2001–2002)
  • Tezz Roberts (1984)
  • Steve Slack (1976–77, 1983–1984)
  • Carly Guarino (1997)
  • Peter Revesz (2008)
  • Tony Barber (2008)
  • Adam Griffiths (1981–1982)
  • Clara Wiseman (2005)
  

Drums

  • Rory Lyons (1976–1977)
  • Robbie Harper (Rob Milne) (1977)
  • Steve J Jones (1977, 1983–1984)
  • Pete Davies (1978–1980, 1984, 1991–1996, 2007, 2008)
  • Ian (Tanner) Tansley (1980 on Brand New Age Tour - filling in for a sick Pete Davies)
  • Robby Baldock (1978)
  • Steve Roberts (1981–82, 1987, 2002)
  • Mal Asling AKA 'Sol Mintz' (1982)
  • John Towe AKA 'Kim Wylie' (1982-1983)
  • Matthew "Turkey" Best (1984)
  • Rab Fae Beith (1984–1986)
  • Geoff Sewell (1986)
  • Dave Wilkinson (1987)
  • Duncan Smith (1987–88)
  • Belvy K (1988)
  • Matt McCoy (1988–92, 1993, 1995)
  • Tezz Roberts (1988, 1999)
  • Leo Mortimer (1989)
  • Jeff Moe (1991)
  • Benjie Bollox (1996)
  • Blitz (1996)
  • Dave Ayer (1995–1997)
  • Michael Richter (1997)
  • Gary Baldy (Ostell) (1997–99)
  • Pumpy (1999–2000)
  • Tommy Couch (1999–2000)
  • Gizz Lazlo (1999, 2006)
  • Jason Willer (2001–2006)
  • Criss Damage (2002)
  • Darrah (2002)
  • Jay (2002)
  • Eric Baconstrip (2005)
  • Jared Melville (2008)
  • Jamie Oliver (2005–present)
  • Greg Cahill (1993 Canada,Argentina)

Discography

Albums

Miscellaneous albums

Compilation appearances

UK chart singles

12" singles

Singles / EPs

Tributes and references

References

  1. 1 2 3 O'Connor, Alan (2008). Punk Record Labels and the Struggle for Autonomy: The Emergence of DIY. Lexington Books. p. 2. ISBN 9780739126608.
  2. 1 2 Apter, Jeff (2009). Never Enough: The Story of The "Cure". Omnibus Press. ISBN 9781847727398.
  3. ↑ "UK Subs Return To New Zealand & Australia", scoop.co.nz, 8 July 1009
  4. ↑ "Punk Can Take It (1979)". IMDB. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  6. ↑ Ensminger, David (2013). Left of the Dial: Conversations with Punk Icons. PM Press. ISBN 9781604866414.
  7. ↑ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 368. CN 5585.
  8. ↑ "UK Subs Facebook Video (2015)". Facebook. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  9. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 574. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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