Punk
Three Sex Pistols React Three Different Ways to Queen Elizabeth II’s Death
Sex Pistols’ 1977 scorcher “God Save the Queen” is one of the harshest things ever written about Queen Elizabeth II, claiming “she ain’t no human being” and calling her a “moron” from a “fascist regime.” She died on September 8th, and now three surviving Sex Pistols — John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon, Steve Jones, and Glen Matlock — have each responded to her passing in different ways. Lydon is the man who sang those insults, but he’s grown much more conservative over the years, and his feelings on Her Royal Highness have clearly softened. “Rest in Peace Queen Elizabeth II,” he wrote on Twitter. “Send her victorious.” His post included the same portrait of Elizabeth the band used in the cover art for “God Save the Queen,” but without the text graffiti. Meanwhile, bass guitarist Matlock...
Flogging Molly Share “A Song of Liberty” in Support of Ukraine: Stream
As long as there’s war, there’ll be protest songs. Flogging Molly is the latest example of that theory, as the Celtic punks have returned today with the new single “A Song of Liberty.” Not only is the song raising funds for refugee aid in Ukraine, but it also spotlights the work of Ukrainian animators/filmmakers The Mad Twins in its accompanying music video. “A Song of Liberty” isn’t just about the occupation of Ukraine, however. Its inspiration traces all the way back to the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland and through both World Wars. Ultimately, it represents humanity’s constant fight against oppression: “It’s a song of freedom, which I wrote as a recounting of a dark period in Irish history,” the band’s Dave King says in a press release. “But suddenly the injustice, and the fight against ...
Flogging Molly Share “A Song of Liberty” in Support of Ukraine: Stream
As long as there’s war, there’ll be protest songs. Flogging Molly is the latest example of that theory, as the Celtic punks have returned today with the new single “A Song of Liberty.” Not only is the song raising funds for refugee aid in Ukraine, but it also spotlights the work of Ukrainian animators/filmmakers The Mad Twins in its accompanying music video. “A Song of Liberty” isn’t just about the occupation of Ukraine, however. Its inspiration traces all the way back to the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland and through both World Wars. Ultimately, it represents humanity’s constant fight against oppression: “It’s a song of freedom, which I wrote as a recounting of a dark period in Irish history,” the band’s Dave King says in a press release. “But suddenly the injustice, and the fight against ...
Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey Goes on Epic Rant Against Greedy Billionaires and Election Deniers: Watch
Dropkick Murphys singer Ken Casey went on a profanity-laced tirade against greedy billionaires and election deniers during the punk band’s set at the Allentown Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania on Thursday night (September 1st). The Celtic punkers are currently playing a series of full-on electric shows at state fairs before embarking on an acoustic outing in support of their upcoming album, This Machine Kills Fascists, featuring lyrics by folk legend Woody Guthrie. Tickets for that tour are available here. Video of the Allentown gig uploaded to Reddit and YouTube captures Casey in the middle of an impassioned onstage speech in which he’s speaking up for the middle class, with apparent references to former president Donald Trump and his supporters. Advertisement “You’re being duped by the greate...
NOFX to Break Up in 2023
Fat Mike has announced that NOFX will break up in 2023. In the comments of an August 31st Instagram post, the singer and bassist said “next year will be our last year.” While NOFX have yet to produce an official breakup announcement, Fat Mike (born Michael Burkett) felt confident enough in their plans that he essentially revealed the news unprompted. A fan commented on an unrelated Instagram post about the hardcore band not coming to Canada enough while on tour, and Fat Mike responded, “Actually, We love Canada, it’s just that next year will be our last year. We will be announcing our final shows soon. It’s been an amazing run….” Once fans picked up on the news, another user asked if NOFX would play in Los Angeles before breaking up. To that comment, Fat Mike responded, “Los Angeles will b...
PUP Announce New Live EP PUP Unravels Live in Front of Everyone They Know
PUP are sharing the first transmissions from their ongoing 2022 tour (tickets here) on a new live EP titled PUP Unravels Live in Front of Everyone They Know. It arrives on October 12th. The EP consists of six cuts collected from a run of shows earlier this year in the band’s native Toronto. “Hometown shows always kinda [of] trip me out,” frontman Stefan Babcock shared in a statement. ” On one hand, they are the most fun shows to play. Toronto has always rallied behind us and we are so lucky to feel that love. But they are also stressful because you don’t want to screw up in front of everyone you know.” He continued, “All of our families, friends, frenemies, the guy who used to sell me weed at the Wendy’s drive-thru, kids I went to elementary school with, my parents’ neighbors. It’s a lot. ...
Ukrainian Punks Gogol Bordello Play Secret Show for Ukrainian Soldiers: Watch
Gogol Bordello spent years framing themselves as nationless punks, with frontman Eugene Hütz singing in 2013, “Borders are scars on the face of the planet.” But after Russia‘s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Hütz discovered something unexpected: patriotism. Now, his multinational band proudly touts his Ukrainian heritage, and as VICE reports, they recently traveled to his homeland to play a secret concert for Ukrainian soldiers. “We had an opportunity to support our fighters, defenders, border guards and some refugees with our band — [to] support musically, morally, spiritually,” he told VICE. “Music remains to be a very serious force… a very serious weapon of defense for people for whom burning out and getting tired of war is not an option… People of Ukraine [are] stan...
Sparta Announce New Self-Titled Album, Share “Mind Over Matter” and “Spiders”: Stream
Jim Ward has a new Sparta album on the way. The self-titled project arrives in full on October 14th, while the first single “Mind Over Matter” and its B-side, “Spiders,” are out now. Forged in the aftermath of Ward’s other band At the Drive-In way back in 2001, Sparta were long overdue for an eponymous album. In a press release, Ward described the record (and its name) as a “fresh slate.” “This new record is a starting point for the band, with absolute love and respect for the last 20 years — it was time to scrap some things, release some baggage and forge a new path,” the singer-guitarist said. He continued, “(Bassist/percussionist) Matt and I have a clear vision for the future and it starts now. We recorded a Sparta record with an ensemble of friends, new and old alike, and couldn’t be h...
Iceage Announce Rarities Album Shake the Feeling, Share Title Track: Stream
Iceage have revealed that a new compilation album titled Shake the Feeling: Outtakes & Rarities 2015–2021 will arrive on September 23rd via Mexican Summer. The announcement comes along with a music video for the title track that showcases the Danish quintet’s raw and visceral live set. Over 12 tracks, Shake the Feeling offers a peek into the band’s vault during the era between 2014’s Plowing Into the Field of Love to last year’s Seek Shelter. The album features a bounty of unreleased material like an acoustic rendition of their early 2021 single “Shelter Song” and covers of Bob Dylan’s “I’ll Keep It with Mine” and Abner Jay’s “My Mule.” The collection also hosts a few songs that won’t be entirely unfamiliar to fans, including the Beyondless outtake “All the Junk on the Outskirts,” whic...
Turnstile Have Parted Ways with Guitarist Brady Ebert
Turnstile revealed on Friday afternoon that guitarist and co-founder Brady Ebert is no longer a member of the group. The announcement was made via the band’s Instagram Story and follows months of speculation after Ebert’s extended absence from their live set. To break the news, the band posted a message that read: “Turnstile and guitarist Brady Ebert are parting ways. We are deeply grateful for our time together. Our love for him continues and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward. Love, Turnstile.” No further details have been provided, but it does give a definitive answer to fans who have noted Ebert’s exclusion on the early summer “Turnstile Love Connection Tour.” A March 2022 taping for Jimmy Kimmel Live! appears to be Ebert’s last public appearance with the band, when they p...
R.I.P. Darryl Hunt, The Pogues’ Longtime Bassist Dead at 72
Darryl Hunt, longtime bassist of legendary Irish punk band The Pogues, has died at the age of 72. According to a post on The Pogues’ Instagram page, Hunt passed away on Monday (August 8th) in London. A cause of death was not disclosed. Hunt joined The Pogues in 1986, replacing original bassist Cait O’Riordan following her marriage to Elvis Costello. He played on five albums, including their 1988 classic, If I Should Fall from Grace with God. Additionally, he wrote “Love You ‘Till the End,” from their 1996 album Pogue Mahone, which was later featured in the 2007 film P.S. I Love You. Related Video Hunt remained an active member of The Pogues through their initial breakup in 1996 and subsequent reunion and second incarnation from 2001 to 2014. Advertisement The Pogues closed their post annou...
Teenage Head Guitarist Gord Lewis Found Dead in Apparent Homicide
Founding Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis was found dead over the weekend in his Hamilton, Ontario apartment, The Spectator reports. According to police, his death is being investigated as a homicide. In a press briefing, Hamilton Detective Sara Beck said police received information related to a deceased person. Upon visiting Lewis’ residence, police “located a deceased male in his 60s” with “injuries consistent with foul play.” However, Beck added that “a positive identification has not been made of the deceased due to the level of decomposition…an autopsy will be performed and additional steps taken to identify the deceased.” Police charged Jonathan Lewis, Gord’s son, with second-degree murder in the case, and Beck said police were not seeking additional suspects. Advertisement Rel...
