The Smoking Hearts

The Smoking Hearts

The Smoking Hearts are a UK punk rock group formed in 2007 by Simon Barker, Nobba Green and Calvin Roffey. The band’s line-up includes Ben Mills, Nobba Green, Simon Barker, Calvin Roffey and Matthieu Taylor.

Style and live reputation

The band plays a hard-edged mix of rock’n’roll and punk rock, with crossover appeal to punk, metal and hardcore audiences. Their live shows are known for physical chaos, including smashed guitars, drum kits spread across the stage, band members moving into the crowd, and Ben Mills performing from around the venue, including the bar and the rafters.

Releases and recording

The Smoking Hearts release a debut album called Pride of Nowhere, which draws strong attention from the British music press and leads to national touring in the UK and Europe. After vocalist Rodd Lethal leaves the band by text message, the remaining members work from demos recorded in Matty Taylor’s bedroom while searching for a new singer. Ben Mills, formerly of Essex hardcore band The Takeover, joins after auditioning and writing songs with the band over several days. The group later records Victory! over four weeks at Fortress Studios in London with Dan Weller and Justin Hill, and the album includes guest backing vocals from more than 40 friends of the band.

Collaborations and touring

The Smoking Hearts play alongside Bring Me The Horizon, The Used, Gallows and Andrew WK, and build a reputation as one of the more notable young bands from the UK punk scene.