UK Subs - Sept 23 It’s hard to think that we are close to the 50^th anniversary of the birth of British Punk Rock. Even more astounding is the number of veterans of the original scene who are still playing gigs when others their age would be sitting at home with their feet up drinking Sanatogen and shouting at the television. The fact that Rebellion festival is growing from strength to strength each demonstrates that punk is very definitely still alive and kicking (although with more aches and pains).

Charlie Harper was already in his thirties when punk broke and his band embraced the new sound and changed their name to the UK Subs. Quickly gathering 6 Top 40 singles and a legion of loyal fans, the band have been a permanent fixture on the punk scene ever since. Now on the crest of his 80th birthday, Charlie is on a farewell tour with the band which will culminate with a five date residency at the legendary 100 Club in Oxford Street.  Tonight, the band are back in Reading at Sub89 for their final appearance there and despite it being a Monday night, the fans are out in force to show their appreciation to their hero.

Support comes from veterans of the ’77 scene, Menace with original member Noel Martin now on vocals and carrying the torch for the original street punks. There’s a sizeable crowd here to support the band and they are paid off with a tight set of songs from across the band’s career. ‘Screwed Up’ ‘Monkey’, ‘Leave Me Alone’ and ‘Executioner’ are all fast and shouty songs that have the crowd bouncing around. Tory baiting ‘GLC’ and the storming ‘Last Years Youth’ finish off a satisfying set.

Menace - Sept 23 UK Subs have had so many members over the years that they make the revolving doors of Mark E Smith’s The Fall look positively pedestrian in comparison. However, Charlie Harper has been there from the start and long term bassist Alvin Gibbs has been in the band on and off since 1980. Joined by the ever reliable Steve Straughan on guitar and newcomer Stefan Häublein on drums, the band launch into ‘Scum of the Earth’ at break neck speed. It never slows down for the entire set with the frantic riffs and basslines pounding incessantly into your head. Charlie is still spritely moving around the stage and his voice is still as strong as ever.

UK Subs - Sept 23 Watching Alvin play bass from my vantage point is a joy as his fingers move across his fretboard. On the other side of the stage Steve is resplendent in his red biker jacket throwing shapes with his guitar. The songs come fast and furious with ‘Rockers’ followed by ‘New York State Police’ and ‘Barbie’s Dead’. The thrash opening of ‘Emotional Blackmail’ is exhilarating as always whilst ‘Kicks’ has the crowd pogoing like its 1979.

UK Subs - Sept 23

The set mainly covers material from the first four studio albums with ‘Another Kind of Blues’ and ‘Brand New Age’ getting good representation. By the time we get to the last third of the set we are treated to the dream track listing of ‘Down on the Farm’, ‘Tomorrow’s Girls’, ‘Warhead’, ‘Riot’, and ‘Stranglehold’, turning the venue into a big throbbing sweaty mass of moving bodies with Charlie encouraging everyone to chant ‘Warhead’. Finishing off with ‘Disease’ the band depart for a quick rest before returning for an encore.

UK Subs - Sept 23 ‘C.I.D.’ still wipes the floor after all these years and is the quintessential UK Subs with throbbing bassline and staccato guitar. ‘I Live in a Car’ still resonates today as life becomes increasing difficult for many. Finishing the encore with ‘I Couldn’t Be You’ and ‘Party in Paris’, the band leave again to rapturous applause and cheers for more but the house music is on and the stage unlit. Just as you think that’s it, Charlie saunters back on stage for a final fling with ‘Squat 96’, ‘Keep on Running (Til You Burn)’ and ‘Teenage’. After 23 slabs of fast and furious punk rock, Charlie leaves the stage for one last time and we appraise what we have just witnessed.

UK Subs - Sept 23 Charlie Harper has been playing with UK Subs for nearly 50 years, clocked up thousands of miles across the globe and performed more gigs to more people than most of us can imagine. He’s never given up on the purpose of the original band and has stayed true to his cause, supporting many of the bands that sprung up in the Subs wake. Prior to the gig, Charlie could be found sat in the near the bar willing to talk to anybody who wanted to say hello, have a chat or just nod appreciation at his legacy. The music world needs more people like Charlie and he will be much missed as a performer.

UK Subs - Sept 23