UK SUBS drop a Warhead in Worthing! Live!

UK SUBS: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Factory Live came alive to full on punk rock, and that’s what tonight was all about – punk rock. With UK SUBS, Guitar Gangsters and Spock On The Bus.

UK SUBS, Guitar Gangsters and Spock On The Bus – The Factory Live 22/05/2025

The story of the UK Subs and Charlie Harper is one of perseverance, passion, and a relentless pursuit of artistic expression. As they continue to tour and create music, with Charlie Harper celebrating his 81^st birthday in a few days, their legacy as pioneers of punk rock remains firmly intact and set to get stronger.

UK SUBS – The Evolution

Starting out as The Subversives, the name was shortened to The Subs and then changed to U.K. Subs.

Since their inception in the late 1970s, UK Subs have carved out a significant niche in the punk rock landscape of the United Kingdom. Led by the charismatic Charlie Harper, the band has become synonymous with high-energy performances and a relentless touring schedule.

UK SUBS: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The UK Subs emerged from the vibrant punk scene of London in 1976, a time when music was not just a form of entertainment but a vehicle for social change. The band was formed by Charlie Harper, who had previously been involved in various musical projects. With a unique blend of punk rock and reggae influences, their sound quickly set them apart from their contemporaries.

UK SUBS: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

In the early days, UK Subs were heavily influenced by the raw energy of punk pioneers like the Sex Pistols and The Clash. Their debut single, “C.I.D.,” released in 1978, showcased their distinctive style and lyrical content, which often addressed social and political issues. This single marked the beginning of a prolific output, with the band releasing a series of singles and albums that would define their career.

During this period, live performances became a crucial aspect of their identity. The band quickly gained a reputation for their electrifying shows, characterised by Harper’s dynamic stage presence and the band’s tight musicianship. These performances were not just concerts; they were communal experiences that fostered a strong connection between the band and their audience. That bond was very clear and strong tonight at The Factory.

UK SUBS: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

By the late 1970s, UK Subs had gained enough traction to support larger acts, further expanding their reach. Their live shows became a rite of passage for punk enthusiasts, drawing crowds eager to experience the raw energy that only a UK Subs performance could deliver.

UK SUBS The Band:

The Band: Charlie Harper expertly delivering on vocals, Alvin Gibbs delivering his masterclass on bass, the drums tonight played expertly by Stefan Häublein, and the “new” guitarist, a certain Abel Inglis, on loan from Criminal Mind, was on strikingly good hot form. Put ‘em all together and wow! It kicks!

Alvin Gibbs delivering his masterclass on bass

New Subs guitarist, Abel Inglis, on loan from Criminal Mind, was on top form.

The man at the back, on drums played expertly by Stefan Häublein

As UK Subs look to the future, their legacy as pioneers of punk rock remains firmly intact. With Charlie Harper at the helm, the band continues to inspire new generations of musicians and fans alike. Their commitment to live performances and their passion for music are unwavering, ensuring that the spirit of punk rock will continue to thrive.

Live performances by the UK Subs are legendary, characterised by their high energy and audience engagement. The band has played countless shows across the globe, from small clubs to large festivals, always delivering an unforgettable experience. Their set lists typically feature a mix of classic hits and newer material, ensuring that both long-time fans and newcomers leave satisfied.

Charlie Harper

One of the hallmarks of a UK Subs concert is the palpable connection between the band and the audience. Charlie Harper, with his distinctive voice and engaging personality, often interacts with fans, encouraging them to sing along and participate in the performance.

UK SUBS: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The band’s ability to adapt their set list to suit the venue and the crowd is another reason for their enduring popularity. Whether performing in a packed London club or at a major music festival, the UK Subs know how to read the room and deliver a performance that resonates with the audience.

UK SUBS – The Set

The set list was truly a wonderful romp through a pretty spectacular catalogue spanning several line-ups and sounding as fresh as the day they were released kicking off tonight with Rockers and Kicks an epic rendition of Time And Matter alongside classics like Down On The Farm, Rat Race and Police State. Their live shows are not just concerts; they are communal experiences that celebrate the spirit of punk rock.

The songs often serve as a rallying cry for those disillusioned by the status quo, with themes that resonate deeply in a world still rife with inequality and strife.

Fans can expect a vibrant display of colours and effects that match the intensity of the music, making each performance not just an auditory delight but also a captivating spectacle. The Factory team did not disappoint, the lighting and sound was top notch on both counts. The synergy between the sound and the visuals amplifies the excitement, ensuring that every moment is etched into the memories of those fortunate enough to be in attendance. This attention to detail has helped the UK Subs maintain their reputation as one of the most electrifying live acts in the punk scene.

UK SUBS: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

There is also time to knock out Kill Me from their studio album Reverse Engineering sitting in very nicely, its songs like this and Party In Paris, Riot, Strangle Hold, You Don’t Belong that I love hearing as much as the must-plays like Warhead and I Live In A Car. The set ended with Teenage.

The story of the UK Subs and Charlie Harper is one of perseverance, passion, and a relentless pursuit of artistic expression. As they continue to tour and create music, with Charlie Harper celebrating his 81^st birthday in a few days, their legacy as pioneers of punk rock remains firmly intact and set to get stronger.

A VIDEO! UK SUBS: Police State

The legendary Charlie Harper and The UK SUBS are on Facebook here

Guitar Gangsters

Guitar Gangsters: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

My ears are ringing and my head is banging after being delightfully aurally assaulted by Guitar Gangsters, so… no change there! Thankfully!

With a history spanning more than 30 years, 11 studio albums and countless tours in 28 countries, Guitar Gangsters continue to produce stunning lives shows and new releases which remain true to their melodic punk roots – slices of urban life, failed love, failed ambition and social politics packed into three-minute power punk gems. I make no secret of my love of these guys after discovering them a couple of years ago. They are firmly on my “must see” list.

Guitar Gangsters: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The band are based around brothers Pete on guitars and Phil on bass, the fairly recently addition of their second guitarist, Ed, and it’s given them some seriously good sounds. They sounded absolutely superb tonight as they piled through their set. They still play like they have to save their own ass, or at least the future of rock ‘n’ roll as we know it!

Guitar Gangsters: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Gangsters incorporate several different styles into their sound. They’ve got a really modern tone with punk, some trashy blues rock and roll and some traditional heavier sections thrown in for good measure.

Guitar Gangsters: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

There’s no shortage of chunky and speedy riffs here in The Factory Live as the guys dig back through their album catalogue. We were played a good few tracks from Fortune Favours The Brave and also an earlier album Sex and Money. Love this outfit and I have both albums, err, and a T-shirt!

Guitar Gangsters: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Pete Ley is the lead singer/guitarist for the Gangsters along with Ed Sonsino on second guitar are responsible for that unique Gangsters powerful guitar sound. Phil Ley plucks at the bass and pulls off some classic bass player rock stances, and new drummer, it was his first live gig with the band, Dylan beats the hell out of those skins. All of the playing during this set was top notch, it really was a loud and faultless set.

The set included some storming and absolute bangers. The songs are fast paced, the drum patterns and bass fills combine to give a heavy thrilling ride that won’t disappoint. All of the songs are a pleasure to listen to. There are no subpar outings in this set and every song stands out for its very own reason. We had a generous 30 minutes set, opening with Turn The Tables, Radio Shakedown into the brilliant Fifty Dangerous Things, and another back catalogue classic , Class of ‘76.

Guitar Gangsters are on fire right now, and with a powerful new drummer in the mix, they are a force to be reckoned with! The set closed down with the superb Shut Up and Get Me A Drink and finally Undefeated.

Thanks Gangsters, that will do nicely! Can’t wait till the next time!

A Video!  Class of ’76 and introducing the new GG drummer!

The hard rockin’ Guitar Gangsters are on facebook here

Spock on The Bus

“The greatest punk band to have never appeared on Sunday Brunch singing about biscuits and Bruce Willis”.

Spock on The Bus is a local four-piece punk band from Worthing. Their songs dive into everything from Bruce Willis, to owl sightings, and local legends, with no agenda—just raw energy that hits best when the amps are loud and the crowd’s in on it. And boy, the amps were set on 11 tonight, they were loud!

Spock On The Bus: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Ian Morgan – Vocals and Triangle, Alex Sedlmayr – Guitar, Chris Sedlmayr – Drums, Nick Wright – Bass

These guys are in no way shrinking violets! They hit you full on as soon as they hit the floor. It’s a beautiful thing!  Spock on The Bus have combined energetic vocals with punk fuelled bombs, hitting you with finely crafted pure, raw rock n roll. Embedding those crafted sentiments, humour, observations and the stories the song lyrics portray and deliver. It is a special thing. And, did I mention they were loud and fast?

They play super catchy punk rock that sits somewhere between Heartbreakers and New York Dolls. It’s thunderous by nature and volume! The tunes are off the charts and we were treated to tracks from them including Eyes, Fishy Bob, Bad Time, album title track Biscuits, into Dementia and closing with Bruce.

Thanks to a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, their debut album ‘Biscuits’ is now available. Spock provided us with some urgent choppy guitars, 100 mile an hour drum playing and vocals, If ever you needed a lesson in how to knock out a top tune that lasts less than two minutes, then look no further!

Spock On The Bus are on Facebook here

And Finally…

Huge thanks to UK SUBS, GUITAR GANGSTERS and Spock On The Bus for letting me!

BRINGING LIVE MUSIC TO BRIGHTON & SUSSEX.

Safe to say we all had a great time at The Factory Live. All the staff were very helpful and welcoming as they always are. This is a great venue for music, comedy or Blues on a Sunday afternoon! Nicely done guys! Experience The Factory Live! A 285 capacity live music venue situated in the heart of Worthing on the South Coast. They recently announced they were awarded Live Music Venue of the year in West Sussex 2024/2025. Congratulations from Scene Sussex, well deserved. I have had many great times there, my second home, and look forward to more visits.

Words and photos by Ian Bourn.

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