U.K. SUBS, the punk legend on a hundred thousand leather jackets, continue their constant touring regime, playing to new generations of nations' disaffected punk youth (who were perhaps first SUB verted aged 5, watching Charlie and & co. on the British TV show - Top Of The Pops!)
Inspired by the Damned and Sex Pistols, they formed late in 1976 as the 'United Kingdom Subversives', soon shortening their name and playing all the London punk holes through '77. Two songs, including their minimalist classic 'I Live In A Carappeared on the Farewell To The Roxy album, and after a huge selling indie single in 1978 C.I.D they signed to Gem Records via RCA world-wide.
Surprising everyone, they then became one of the most consistently and visibly successful punk bands, with seven consecutive UK Top 30 hits between 1979-81, establishing themselves throughout the world with a heavy touring schedule that still continues today. The hits were: Stranglehold, Tomorrows Girls, The Zombie's She's Not There, Warhead, Teenage, Party In Paris and Keep On Running. The albums Brand New Age and Crash Course both went into the UK top ten.
Led by the indefatigable Charlie Harper (now venerated as the godfather of UK punk, and still passionately a paid-up member of the punk fraternity) the band has continued and thrived, through various line-ups and record companies. Touring world-wide for 25 years, they maintain and pioneer the true spirit of punk rock, without the compromise and watering-down that affected so many of their contemporaries.
1997 saw a re-union of the classic Harper/Garratt/Gibbs line-up producing a 20th anniversary album Quintessentials. 1999 saw the release of a 'best of' compilation of the last 15 years entitled Sub Mission, following on the heels of the blood-red vinyl 7" single release, Riot 98.
Into the new millennium the UK Subs completed a World tour and released the album Time Warp and 7" vinyl and CD single The Revolution's Here on the French label 'Combat Rock Records'.
And at the end of 2002, and the 25 anniversary of punk rock, the UK Subs prove that they still are a force to be reckoned with their latest album, released on Captain Oi records, Universal bears testiment to this.
Released in 2003 is a split 7" single (Fuck You Punx Vol:2) with a killer track - Terroristos. In 2003, relentless touring again including Europe, US, UK tours. 2004 promises much more of the same.
The current line-up is: Charlie Harper - vocals, Soho Steve - guitar, Alvin Gibbs - bass, John Towe - drums.
Source: http://www.studioannex.com/muckhome/press/uksubsbio.html
