UK Rock & Punk Scene

Carter first joined forces with Glen Matlock, Paul Cook and Steve Jones to play ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ in its entirety to raise funds for Bush Hall in Shepherd’s Bush, west London. The venue was chosen after it came under threat when its owners revealed that it needed to raise £42,000 through crowdfunding to prevent it from losing its ability to host music.

The first sold-out show took place on August 13, with further gigs then announced on 14 and 15 following immense demand.

An “overwhelming response” to the gigs saw Sex Pistols and Carter later announce another live gig in the capital at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on Thursday September 26, which sold out in five minutes.

Now, they’ve revealed they’ll be playing an extra four UK shows in September. They’ll kick off the tour in Nottingham on September 20, before heading to Birmingham (21), Glasgow (22) and Manchester (24). They’ll then wrap up the tour with the London gig on September 26.

While I went mainly to see Comback Kid, I could not argue that the headliners were awesome! Another great evening on the Leeds punk scene.

Holding Absence performing for only the 2nd time in Leeds. Back in 2019, they performed at The Key Club, and this year, 2023, they played at the Leeds University Stylus.

Supported by Thornhill and Dark Devine, it was everything you would expect from them. There was no shortage of moshpits, but it would not be right if it did not happen.

A great evening, and I look forward to the next time they step into a Leeds Venue!

Levesque later added: “One of the tracks I mentioned was Sympathy For The Devil. He was like, ‘Ugh.’ He was a big Beatles guy. I was like, ‘Man, to me – that song with your voice on it, Lem – you’re the Devil.’ I talked him into it and it’s the first one he does.”

Levesque then claimed to also inspire Motörhead’s Heroes cover.

“I suggested it: ‘David Bowie, Heroes, you doing that song.’ And he’s like, ‘I am not singing about dolphins!’ [referencing the lyric ‘Like the dolphins, like dolphins can swim’]. I was like, ‘Lem! Rewrite the lyrics! Who cares?!’”

“When I was onstage, I used to go, ‘Oh, fuck it,’ and just piss, ’cause I was wet anyway from throwing water around,” he explained, referring to when he would spray his audience with high-powered water guns or throw buckets of water around on stage. Following the announcement, Sharon exclaimed, “Thanks for sharing!”

Elsewhere in the episode of the podcast, the Prince of Darkness also confirmed that the rumour of him snorting ants with Mötley Crüe back in the ‘80s was indeed true – following the speculation that came to light again in the 2019 biopic The Dirt.

After a few years out due to many pandemic related cancellations, we are really back in the swing of it! I love nothing more than being in the thick of it.

I kicked it off with a pre-SlamDunk gig, the NOFX final tour in Leeds. I had always wanted to see them and they were supported by some amazing bands including Comback Kid, Less Than Jack and Lagwagon. Despite only being 2 days before I was attending SlamDunk, it just had to happen and was a great precurser for the SlamDunk Festival itself.

Anyway, I have some more lined up in Leeds:

• Holding Absence
• Punk Rock Factory
• The Amity Affliction (supported by Comeback Kid)
• Static Dress

Likely not going to stop there and already booked Bowling for Soup next year.

So, what is everyone else attending?