The third and final volume of the fascinating and exquisitely well-written life and times of Alvin Gibbs and what a trilogy it has been. With a Foreword by Gaye Black of The Adverts, it contains 37 Chapters, In excess of 130,000 words over 352 pages. It also has a comprehensive updated Alvin Gibbs discography and bibliography, furnished with photos and memorabilia from Alvin’s personal archive. Anyone who has read the previous two volumes will be well up to date with how this pans out and probably (like me) has read the book from cover to cover in as quick a turnaround as possible.

If you’re curious and new to this trilogy then keep with me you’re in for a fascinating journey told by the man himself in a thoroughly engaging and superbly written style. Alvin isn’t just one of the best bass players out there, nor a pretty decent songwriter to boot but he’s well educated and knows how to engage people with his fine use of the English language. I’d love to have the man’s style, swagger and Bass skills, Are you still with me? Good.

The downside to all of this is this is the third and final offering, (or so we’re told) maybe, who knows life is for living and Alvin is certainly doing that at a rate to put musicians more than half his age to shame. This story of Alvin Gibbs and (mostly) the UK Subs isn’t over by a long chalk they might have gone part-time or entered the period of retiring the band on the touring front but shit, they’re still one of the best punk rock bands out there treading the boards and releasing records.

I’m fascinated to read the passages about the social chaos tour of the USA and how Chas and Garratt do their own merch and don’t share with Gibbs and Gizz and how shambolic touring sometimes is and wonder how people like Gibbs puts himself through this time after time for the love of the music and it being a way of life. It’s often a shambolic process and the amount of times I found myself asking why go through it again just for the music. The subsequent tour of Europe and the occasional admission that Elton…sorry OG Chas is not a businessman or a very well-organised tour manager (who knew eh?).

The darker sad passage regaling the Marquee show with Roberts back in the fold is captivating and sad and such a shame. But I did chuckle at Alvin’s CBGB story about losing his rag with Wylie and finances raising their ugly head over a smallish amount of greenback. some people eh? Who needs enemies when your bandmates are happy to take money out of your pocket? I’m giggling thinking about Chas the backseat driver and picturing them almost having to thumb it to a show. Pure Spinal Tap stuff and a scenario you can see our Subs doing.

The Misfits stories are great and warming to read I also know of my own Jerry Only tales where he’s gone beyond for fans. Whilst the Subs merry go round of players makes me sad to read and I think attending Rebellion over the last decade or so and seeing how the more stable lineups and more professionally run act the band were Or at least appeared to be who would have known eh? However, how highly they are regarded is heartwarming and I would imagine a lot of that is down to Gibbs and his constant pursuit for the Subs to seem more professional and be taken seriously. It might be alarming to see the paltry amounts the band were paid for touring and if it weren’t for the love of the music they probably would be a mere footnote in the pantheon of punk rather than over the last two decades proving that they deserve to be remembered for being a great live band and also their last four albums particularly a top-notch recording band as well. Alvin’s flea clang made me laugh out loud but to be honest, Alvin was 100% right.

The passages about him obtaining his degree from OU is impressive and inspiring and so un-punk rock to the point of it being the most punk rock thing possible and something that will make the punk rock police’s heads collectively spin and explode.

I know the saying is what goes on tour stays on tour but we all must have wondered what it might be really like behind the scenes and nobody has done the job of telling tales out of school better than this trilogy of books. A life dedicated to the pursuits of Rock n Roll and getting to do that with some of the best and having three volumes of stories to tell is brilliant and the fact it’s so well written is a bonus. it’s like sitting in a pub and letting your mate Alvin tell his truth whilst you supply him with quality red wine. There have clearly been some huge highs as well as plenty of lows but life is for living and Alvin Gibbs has certainly done it and bought the T-shirt (probably off Charlie) as they say. What a fascinating read – Just in time for Christmas. Buy It!

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