U.K. Subs

U.K. Subs
Background information
Origin London, United Kingdom
Genres Punk rock
Years active 1976–present
Website UK Subs Official Website
Members
Charlie Harper
Nicky Garratt
Jamie Oliver
Alvin Gibbs
Jet Storm (guitar)

The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, 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.

Contents

Career

The U.K. Subs were part of the original punk movement in England that formed in 1976, with the initial name of the Subversives. 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".[1] 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 some 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, and then signed a recording contract with GEM Records. Under GEM, the U.K. Subs recorded an album in 1979 called Another Kind of Blues. The group also played a few opening gigs for The Police, as well as recording a set at The Roxy (a punk club), which was issued in 1980 as Live Kicks. Their biggest selling album came with 1980s Crash Course.

With the arrival of new bassist Alvin Gibbs and drummer Steve Roberts in the early 1980s, 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. Their concert was held in Gdansk, and they were supported by Brygada Kryzys.[2] 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 according to an interview with TxPunk.net, the band will start the process over after reaching the letter "Z". 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.

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.

Band members

 

Lead vocals

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–Present)
  • Robbie Harper [1977]
  • Jet Storm (2005–Present)
  • Knox (1987)
  • Alan Lee (1987–89)
  • Simon Rankin (2001)
  • Andy McCoy (1988)
  • Jim Moncur (1984–1986)
  • 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)
  • Roger Brown (1978–79)

Bass guitar

  • Paul Slack (1977–1981, 2008–2010)
  • Alvin Gibbs (1980–1983, 1988, 1999–2002, 2003–present)
  • Flea (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, 1983–1984)
  • Chema Zurita (2007–present)
  • Carly Guarino (1997)
  • Peter Revesz[2008]
  • Tony Barber [2008]
  

Drums

  • Robbie Harper [Rob Milne](1977)
  • Dave Ayer (1995–1997)
  • Robby Baldock [1978]
  • Rab Fae Beith (1984–1986)
  • Gary Mitchell (1985)
  • Benjie Bollox (1996)
  • Tommy Couch (1999–2000)
  • Criss Damage (2002)
  • Pete Davies (1978–1980, 1984, 1991–1996, 2007 ,2008)
  • Steve J Jones (1977, 1983–1984)
  • Belvy K (1988)
  • Jared Melville (2008)
  • Rory Lyons (1976–1977)
  • Matt McCoy (1988–92 ,1993, 1995)
  • Jamie Oliver (2005–present)
  • Gary Ostell (1997–99)
  • Pumpy (1999–2000)
  • Geoff Sewell (1986)
  • Dave Wilkinson (1987)
  • Jason Willer (2001–2006)
  • Kim Wylie (1982)
  • Tezz Roberts (1988,1999)
  • Gary Baldy (1997–1999)
  • Matthew " Turkey" Best (1984)
  • Duncan Smith (1987–88)
  • Leo Mortimer (1989)
  • Gizz Lazlo (1999, 2006)
  • Darrah (2002)
  • Jay (2002)
  • Jeff Moe (1991)
  • Michael Richter (1997)

Discography

Albums

[3]

Miscellaneous albums

Compilation albums

UK chart singles

[3]

12" singles

Singles / EPs

Tributes/References

References

  1. ^ UK Subs Return To New Zealand & Australia - scoop.co.nz
  2. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 368. CN 5585. 
  3. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 574. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links