UK Subs

UK Subs are an English punk band from London, active from 1977. They form under the name UK Subversives in 1976 and later shorten it to UK Subs. Their early line-up includes Charlie Harper, Nicky Garratt, Pete Davies and Paul Slack, and the membership changes frequently over time. The group sits within punk and punk rock, and their style also draws on the energy of punk and the rock and roll influence of pub rock.

Early releases and breakthrough

The band finds early success with singles including “Warhead”, “I Live in a Car” and “Tomorrow’s Girls”. Several of these songs enter the UK Top 40. Their biggest-selling album is Crash Course, released in 1980.

Later line-up and output

In the early 1980s, Alvin Gibbs joins on bass and Steve Roberts on drums, and the group develops a heavier and faster sound while keeping a punk outlook. UK Subs continue to perform and tour regularly, and are among the longer-surviving bands from Britain’s punk era. By 2015, Jet joins on guitar and Jamie Oliver on drums, and the band reaches its 25th studio album with Yellow Leader.

Catalogue approach

The band also follows a project of releasing official albums in alphabetical order from A to Z.