DAVID JOHANSEN FUND

DAVID JOHANSEN FUND

SWEET RELIEF MUSICIANS FUND ANNOUNCES

DAVID JOHANSEN FUND

NEW YORK DOLLS CO-FOUNDER & FRONTMAN

REVEALS STAGE 4 CANCER DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT 

New York, NY (February 10, 2025) – David Johansen, legendary co-founder of the New York Dolls, has been living with stage 4 cancer and a brain tumor. Diagnosed in 2020, Johansen made the decision to keep his illness private, but due to the severe financial burden, he is ready to share. In November 2024, he fell and broke his back in two places, which required surgery. Despite a successful procedure, David is bedridden and incapacitated. For the best chance of recovery, he requires around-the-clock care.

Assisting in the Johansen family recovery efforts, Sweet Relief launched the David Johansen Fund. The most immediate needs are full time nursing, physical therapy and funding for day to day vital living expenses. With professional specialized care, the Johansen family remains hopeful that David can regain some mobility and independence. Sweet Relief is also offering a special Johansen T-shirt with all proceeds going to his treatment.

Johansen shares, “We’ve been living with my illness for a long time, still having fun, seeing friends and family, carrying on, but this tumble the day after Thanksgiving really brought us to a whole new level of debilitation. This is the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. I’ve never been one to ask for help, but this is an emergency. Thank you.”

Aric Steinberg, Executive Director at Sweet Relief Musicians Fund adds, “Sweet Relief is honored to help David and his family during this difficult time in their lives. Our Directed Artist Funds can provide a meaningful solution when the community rallies around the recipient, and we anticipate that David’s community will be eager to help here. His influence on the musical landscape with the New York Dolls is indelible, and his career as an actor and an artist has touched many people around the world. He’s been knocked down but we’re here to help him back up with the help of his family, friends and wider community of supporters.”

David was recently the subject of Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi’s documentary Personality Crisis: One Night Only which brilliantly captures an evening of David’s songs and storytelling, and gives a little context to the wild tapestry of David’s life. David was the lead singer and songwriter of the legendary New York Dolls, widely acknowledged as one of the first (and coolest) punk bands. David started his own group, the David Johansen band, before reinventing himself yet again in the 1980s as Buster Poindexter. Inspired by his passion for the blues and arcane American folk music David formed the group The Harry Smiths, and toured the world performing the songs of Howlin’ Wolf with Hubert Sumlin and Levon Helm. Of all these incarnations, David is most often recognized for his work in a handful of beloved films, like the Christmas classic Scrooged, and the race track comedy Let it Ride. He continues to host his weekly radio show “The Mansion of Fun” on Sirius XM. David had an exhibition of his paintings in New York this past summer at Elliot Templeton Fine Arts gallery.

For more information on the David Johansen Fund, visit:https://www.sweetrelief.org/davidjohansenfund.html

City Saints – ‘Explosiv!’ (Sunny Bastards Records)

City Saints – ‘Explosiv!’ (Sunny Bastards Records)

Swedish punk rockers City Saints are on album number six. formed in Gothenburg in 2012 they’ve toured all over Europe several times people in the UK will have no doubt seen them grace the stage at Rebellion Festival with their punchy street punk mixed with a bit of OI and some hard rock thrown in for good measure. The band have always played hard and turned in songs with attitude and always had a good sense of melody with catchy choruses, and terrace anthems if you like.

City Saints grew up with the Gothenburg punk scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s. “Explosiv!” kicks off with a surprise in the Ennio Morricone-inspired “Göta Älv”. A moody intro to lull you into a false sense of security before the high-paced anthems take you away. Sort of their own Derango 95 before songs like ‘Majorna’ and ‘På G’ are great examples of where they mix the rapid Ramones punk rock with a more dirty Rock n Roll and even though I don’t understand the lyrics I understand Punk Rock n Roll alright and this greasy punk n roll is right on the money. Sure if you mix some Sparrer with early Backyard Babies and Demons’ you might be with me in the very right place at the right time. ‘Smaken Av Blod’ just rocks out. they’re not taking prisoners and just get the foot on the monitor and go for it. ‘Stadden Brimmer’ has the gang vocal of Rancid and is a great example of that mix with a grunting bass run with some top-slashing riffage. Side one take a bow your work here is done.

Flip it over and it’s heads down for some boogie rock with the title track kicking out the twelve-bar rock n roll. Love the bridge with its thumping Bass solo and groove on the drums before some tasty harmonica honkin for good measure. It’s down and dirty rock’n’roll for sure and done really well. ‘Blod & Bly’ starts off with a measured Angus lick before it’s called to arms and rocks like fuck. Heads down the finish line is getting near so ‘Nitad’ cuts loose and just rock out before ‘Kranarnas Stad’ continues the party. The final song is something of an outro “Fan Ta Er” which is a short live cut done with vocals and harmonica like were stood around an open fire near the sea as we all stomp our feet but a great way to catch our breath before we dive back in and do it all again. Great effort from Swedoens City Saints ‘Explosiv’ by name explosive by nature. Get involved it is a cracker.

Buy Here or Coretex Records

Author: Dom Daley

Richard Davies & The Dissidents – ‘High Times And Misdemeanours’ (Gard du Nord Records)

Richard Davies & The Dissidents – ‘High Times And Misdemeanours’ (Gard du Nord Records)

Having seen Richard put in a pretty impressive shift slinging his six strings with Marc Valentine it has been something of a pleasure to have this album on heavy rotation for the past few weeks. It’s the second offering from Richard and this is another step in the right direction offering a gritty real-life view on the world be it through an acoustic guitar or the wheeze of a harmonica or some laid-back telecaster rock n roll its an album filled with twists and turns in a world just off the beaten track where everything polished and sanitised this is real campfire rock n roll with its big beating heart worn proudly on its collective sleeve. from the opening mid-tempo stroll of ‘Keep Your Fire Burning’ it breaks of moonshine Rock n roll with a chorus that digs in and refused to leave until you’ve chased that dragon one more time.

There’s a feeling of yesteryear as the guiding lights of Mott The Hoople and The South of France Stones collide with Thunders and Perrett. ‘Soldiers Of Fortune’ is a marvellously crafted song that’s pumping blood around the speakers with the likes of Thunders whispering melodies into Davies’s ear for inspiration without ever sounding like his heroes in a copycat way but leaning on their rich catalogues for inspiration.

I love the swagger of ‘Human On The Inside’ and the arrangement is excellent as the song soars toward the chorus you feel like you’ve been on a journey with the band and it was the best of times real roots rock n roll. Theres a lot to admire on ‘Born To Drown’ with its subtle keys sounding like a song Stuart and Prophet would have loved to have written in their Green On Red heyday.

‘Born To Drown’ is another unassuming earworm from the melody to the arrangement it’s not at all overcrowded even though there is a lot going on a great tune from what is unquestionably a talented band. ‘Lead Me Out Of The Wilderness’ is more laid back with a hint of Dylan and a great vocal. ‘Age Of The Blade’ is a sharp riff and ‘Higher Station’ has a hint of Americana in there and some great backing vocals to light up the Chorus. The album closes out with the Surprise cover of ‘Live For Today’ and what a pleasant surprise it is too. I always get a little worried when I hear people covering a Stiv Bator song because of the high regard I hold him in but this is spot on. Richard hasn’t tried to copy or mimic note for note rather he’s interpreted and handled it with kid gloves and paid respect to a classic in the interpretation and delivery and to be fair it just about caps off one of the strongest albums I’ve had the pleasure of in quite a while. Great effort all round and an album I highly recommend, While the world might be heading to hell in a handcart it’s reassuring to know that I can have an awesome soundtrack as I go down in flames and ‘High Times And Misdemeanours’ is right at the top of the playlist playing loud and proud. Simple one this – go Buy It!

Spotify

Bandcamp

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MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP – ‘Me Too’

MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP – ‘Me Too’

ME TOO // SINGLE & VIDEO – CHOOSE THE BEAR TOUR // SPRING 2025

MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP have released their new single Me Too, taken from their acclaimed second album Wake Up, Shut Up, Work. The single is the fourth and final to be taken from the album and comes with an acoustic version on the B-side and an intensely powerful and emotional video directed by Ell Bobin. The release comes ahead of the band’s Choose The Bear Tour in the spring, which includes their biggest headline London show to date at Camden Dingwalls and will raise money for Sexual and Domestic Abuse charities along with a new Angry Ted Plushie bear. The bear will be strictly limited to 500 with £6 from each one being donated to The Survivors Trust, Refuge UK and Beyond The Streets with the aim of raising £1000 for each charity.

Pic: Tina K

The video features members of Ramona’s Tea Party, who supported Millie Manders and The Shutup on their headline UK tour in the autumn of last year, and members of the audience on those shows.

Speaking about the video, Millie says:

“Thank you to Ramona’s Tea Party for the excellent acting and for spending hours on set with us, and especially to Ramona for deeply immersing herself in the moment, making us all emotional. And thank you to the literally hundreds of people across our shows who chose to be filmed for this video. We are so sorry we couldn’t fit more in. It was staggering the number of you who wanted to be involved with this. Thank you so much for watching and for your support.”

Wake Up, Shut Up Work reached #2 in the UK Rock & Metal album chart and #6 in the UK Independent album chart upon its release in August, and is the follow up to their Telling Truths, Breaking Ties debut. The album is available on CD and vinyl from https://linktr.ee/milliemanders and a host of independent record stores alongside all major streaming and download platforms.

CHOOSE THE BEAR TOUR

FEBRUARY

Thu 13 LONDON Camden Dingwalls

Sat 22 LEEDS A Fistful Of Ska

MARCH

Thu 27 BLACKPOOL Bootleg Social

Fri 28 GLASGOW Audio

Sat 29 SCARBOROUGH Punk Festival

Sun 30 YORK Crescent

APRIL

Fri 18 MANCHESTER Punk Festival

Wed 23 MILTON KEYNES Craufurd Arms

Thu 24 ALDERSHOT West End Centre

Fri 25 HITCHIN Club 85

Sat 26 SWANSEA Sin City

MAY

Thu 01 HUDDERSFIELD Parish

Fri 02 BIRKENHEAD Future Yard

Sat 03 LEICESTER Musician

Sun 04 DERBY Hairy Dog

Tickets from www.millie-manders.com and the venues.

Split Dogs new Single has plenty of bark

Split Dogs new Single has plenty of bark

Bristol Punk Rock ‘n Rollers Split Dogs bite back with new single ‘Lafayette’ out now via Venn Records

New album ‘Here To Destroy’ set for release on February 28th – pre-order HERE:

Listen/Buy HERE:

UK headline tour confirmed for Feb/March 

Primed to grab 2025 by the scruff of the neck and give it a damn good shaking, high-octane boogie woogie punk rock ‘n rollers Split Dogs are set to embark on their first UK headline tour as they approach the release of their ‘Here To Destroy’ album, due for release on February 28th via Venn Records.

Today, Split Dogs offer up another cut with their new single ‘Lafayette’ which is, says guitarist Mil Martinez “a love letter to our families and the influence they’ve had on our love for music.

At a glance it tells the story of (singer) Harry’s mother growing up in Wolverhampton during the height of the 1970s/80s northern soul scene and the characters she encountered. It also tips a hat to my older brother that passed away in 2023, he played a major role in my song writing growing up.”

The video was shot by drummer Chris Hugall who admits that on the actual day of filming they had no real plan as all of their other ideas had fallen through, but they worked on the fly and the end result compliments the song perfectly.

“It takes you on a journey through the cobbled streets and back bars of the Black Country, Harry’s hometown Wolverhampton,” explains Mil. “From Chewing gum-stained carpets and pints of mild to stone faced locals and tar-stained fingertips. If you fancy a dance? Come out to the club and feel alive!”

Born from the frustration of seeing music become commodified and soulless, vocalist Harry Atkins and guitarist Mil Martinez had the idea to form a band as far back as 2015, with the name ‘Split Dogs’ pulled from the classic zombie film ‘Return of the Living Dead’.

In South London, a young Martinez would hear Status Quo, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Dire Straits on the car radio while his father drove him to school. At home he would invade his older brother’s record collection which leaned towards the harder sounds of punk and heavy metal. Meanwhile in the Black Country, Harry’s mother instilled a love of Northern Soul, Slade and rock’n’roll, with stories of nights out at Club Lafayette and family singalongs at home. According to Martinez, “Our sound is a culmination of all those early influences and, to be honest, it really shows.”

It wasn’t until 2022 that Split Dogs officially arrived on the scene with bass player Suez Boyle joining the band in 2023. Already a prominent figure in the queer punk scene, Suez played the first ever Rebellion Festival at the tender age of 16 with her band The Walking Abortions. Up until that point, drummer Chris Hugall, an old friend of Martinez and former member of ska punks Mouthwash (signed to Rancid’s label Hellcat back in the day), was only on hand to help design artwork. It wasn’t until 2024 that Hugall joined the band full-time cementing the current line-up.

The raucous live shows and infectious lyrics saw the four-piece make a name for themselves among the punks of Bristol, a scene that has always welcomed LGBTQ+ and marginalised people. As word spread, so did the gigging, and soon enough Split Dogs were playing to sold out rooms in mainland Europe, eventually grabbing the attention of UK label Venn Records (Gallows, Bob Vylan, High Vis).

‘Here to Destroy’ was recorded over three days at Middle Farm Studios by producer Peter Miles. All tracks were laid straight to a 16-track reel-to-reel tape machine, no autotune, no effects pedals, no computers. To add to the music’s authenticity, the album was recorded live, with Harry singing along in a vocal booth. No cutting and pasting, just nailing takes. According to Martinez, “It was a blast! We fully immersed ourselves, sleeping in a small apartment below the studio, cooking meals and listening to Pete’s extensive record collection”.

As the album title makes clear, Split Dogs are here to destroy, but they’re also here to rebuild and remind us of music’s essence. “We’re not beholden to the digital age, we don’t want to get famous on social media, we just want to show the world that rock’n’roll is alive and well”.

Heads down, see you at the end. 

Catch Split Dogs live at the following dates:

2/2 Incider Festival, North Somerset

7/2 Milton Arms, Portsmouth 

26/2 Hug and Pint, Glasgow

27/2 Gullivers, Manchester

28/2 Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham 

1/3 The Grace, London 

2/3 Daltons, Brighton 

7/3 Rough Trade, Bristol

Europe

18/3 Supersonic, Paris. France

20/ Cafe Central, Brussels, Belgium 

21/3 La Zone leige. Belgium 

22/3 cafe The Jack, Eindhoven. Netherlands 

23/3 Poppodium Volt, sittard. Netherlands 

26/3 Monkeys Music club, Hamburg. Germany 

27/3 Dreikonigskeller, Frankfurt. Germany

28/3 Museumskeller, Erfurt. Germany

29/3 Freak Show, Essen. Germany

Festivals

23/5 Bearded Theory

24/5 Sneister, Netherlands

9-12/7 2000 Trees

9/8 Rebellion, Blackpool

Find Split Dogs online HERE:

The Hellacopters – ‘Overdriver’ (Nuclear Blast)

The Hellacopters – ‘Overdriver’ (Nuclear Blast)

Sweden’s finest exponents of action rock The Imperial State Electrocopters are back and they are firing on all cylinders. Nicke Andersson’s 70’s drenched tribute to The Stooges/Kiss/Thin Lizzy/Motorhead (delete as applicable) follows up their 2022 comeback album ‘Eyes Of Oblivion’ with a new 11-track banger of an album in ‘Overdriver’, and there is not a Dregen to be seen or heard on this, the 9th long player from The Hellacopters. Which sort of makes it an Imperial State Electric sort of thing, doesn’t it?

Confused? Well don’t be. The livewire Backyard Babies guitarist may well have been instrumental in the sound of The Hellacopters classic ‘Supershitty To The Max!’ garage rock era, but that was a different band in a different century ladies and gents. Nicke and his gang progressed over the years, and while the gang members have come and gone, the song remains the same in 2025.

Seems as they are a four piece in the videos, we are to assume out illustrious leader handles guitar duties as well as vocals here. All is well and good and opener ‘Token Apologies’ delivers the Kiss/UFO influences to the max, and if you have, like me been rediscovering the ‘Head Off’ covers re-issue recently, then that is a good reference for where we are heading sound-wise.

‘Don’t Let Me Bring You Down’ is classic Nicke, and could’ve been a single from any of the early Imperial State Electric long players, or any 70’s Quo album come to think of it. A great memorable hook, and an early highlight for sure.

But then things get really tasty with the magnificent power pop single ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Just A Memory’. Methinks Ginger Wildheart would give his left bollock to have a hook that good for The Wildhearts in 2025. With its urgent beats and rousing chorus, it sounds like Benny & Bjorn penned it back in ‘78, Iggy stole the beat from the Lord and traded it to Nicke’s old man for a bag of blow and a bottle of Jack. Yes, it’s that good!

3 songs in and were flying in the right direction. The groovy punk n’ roll of ‘Wrong Face’ follows, the rousing and uplifting ‘Soldier On’, and the overly familiar ‘Doomsday Daydreams’ wrap up a very strong side 1.

Flipping the virtual disc and the high energy ‘Faraway Looks’ has riffs and a chorus to die for, latest single ‘Do You Feel Normal’ is classic 70’s rock at its finest and closer ‘Leave A Mark’, does exactly that with its throbbing bass line, driving rhythms and Starchild vocal delivery. It rocks you like a hurricane until the final note rings out.

For me, ‘Overdriver’ is a stronger album than its predecessor. It’s an album of two halves, side 1 pisses all over side 2, but it’s worth flipping the disc for the opener and closer alone. There’s a lot of familiarity of ‘Overdriver’, riffs you will have heard before…somewhere, and you’ll be wracking your brain to recall where the hell you have heard certain melodies before, but that’s half the fun of the listening experience. Who was it that said, “There’s nothing original in rock n’ roll these days”? That may well be true, but if it’s good and it makes you feel something, then who the fuck gives a fuck?!

The Hellacopters may not sounds as raw and exciting as they did in 1996, but they’ve mellowed like a fine red wine over the years and ‘Overdriver’ is a great return to form and one of the essential listens for 2025.

Buy Here

Author: Ben Hughes

THE HARD-ONS – NEW VIDEO FOR  “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

THE HARD-ONS – NEW VIDEO FOR  “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

THE HARD-ONS RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR SINGLE “RIDE TO THE STATION” AND ANNOUNCE US TOUR – WITH POISON IDEA’S JERRY A ON LEAD VOCALS! 

NEWS FOLLOWS MASSIVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR AND ‘BEST DOCUMENTARY’ PRIZE FOR
THE MOST AUSTRALIAN BAND EVER AT THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL PUNK FILM FESTIVAL

The Hard-Ons have followed a massive 2024 with the release of the new video for “Ride To The Station” – the single take from their new album I Like You A Lot Getting Older – and the announcement a May/June US tour with old friend Jerry A of legendary Portland punks Poison Idea!

The “Ride To The Station” video was produced by Sydney based studio Kapow Pictures. Director Mark Gravas has said, “I have been a fan of the band for almost 40 years. We have produced several videos in the past for The Hard-Ons and were very happy to produce this one for their 40th anniversary. I was inspired by my favourite zombie film ‘Train to Busan’ and my own experiences on public transport. We animated the video using Quill a software primarily used in VR.”

Kapow has also produced a poster of the video which is available to purchase on their website.

The US tour with Jerry A from Poison Idea on guest lead vocals will see The Hard-Ons joining the heavy weight double bill of Napalm Death and the Melvins for shows across the Mid-West and Western states in the USA. The complete run of dates is listed below.

The Hard-Ons first toured with Poison Idea back in the late ’80s, and first recorded with Jerry A as guest vocalist back in 1993 – Jerry wrote and sung the track “The Blade” on their Too Far Gone album. The track recently resurfaced on Jerry’s solo album From The Fire Into The Water. The Hard-Ons are set to release an album with Jerry on vocals later in 2025.   

In addition to the new album, 2024 saw The Hard-Ons celebrating their 40th anniversary with extensive European and Australian tours and enjoying numerous screenings of (and international acclaim – including the ‘Best Documentary’ prize at the International LA Punk Film Festival 2024 – for) their feature length documentary, The Most Australian Band Ever, directed by Jonathan J. Sequeira for production companies Living Eyes and Play Vintage.

I Like You A Lot Getting Older was the third album by the band’s current line-up of Blackie, Murray, Ray and Tim, and follows 2021’s ARIA top 5 debuting I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken and 2023’s the Top 30 debuting Ripper ’23. 



The Hard-Ons’ first two shows for 2025 are February 8 at Selinas in Sydney with the Hoodoo Gurus and February 14 at Mary’s Underground in Sydney with NZ’s rocking The D4.

Buy I Like You A Lot Getting Older via Cheersquad Bandcamp 
https://cheersquadrecordstapes.bandcamp.com/album/i-like-you-a-lot-getting-older

Buy/stream via digital providers
https://bfan.link/i-like-you-a-lot-getting-older

For more info on the feature documentary, The Most Australian Band Ever, go to
www.livingeyes.com.au

The Hard-Ons (with Jerry A) appear as guests of Napalm Death and the Melvins as part of their Savage Imperial Death March Part II tour at the following shows:
May 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 
May 23 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
May 24 – Kansas City, MO @ Madrid Theatre
May 25 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
May 27 – Denver, CO @ Summit
May 29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
May 31 – Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
June 1 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Spokane
June 2 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
June 3 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
June 4 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
June 6 – Reno, NV @ Virginia Street Brewhouse
June 7 – Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone Berkeley

The Electric Shakes – ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ (Self Release)

The Electric Shakes – ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ (Self Release)

An EP always slips through the cracks, and goes undetected on the RPM radar and The Electric Shakes certainly falls into that category so the time has come to put it right. Released in 2024 the ‘Ten Years In Overdrive’ EP is here to testify that the UK can shake its shit up there with the best garage rock available anywhere on the planet.

From the off, your groove is on mofos ‘Breaking Me Loose’ is a sub-five-minute exhibition that what the mighty Thee Hypnotics didn’t fall on deaf ears with its strutting riff giving it large in time-honoured fashion is a smart and precise opener that sets the tone for some pretty impressive ROCK!

Riding on a groove that swings like billy big bollocks ‘Make It Last’ demands you turn up the stereo then when it’s loud enough to hear the windows rattle you’re good to go. With a spot-on production that embraces the old but also sounds modern and fresh it’s a toe-tapper for sure. Clocking in at a smudge over seven minutes won’t put you off once the guitars lock in and we have take off the mid-song breakdown with sing a long made for the live shows vocal is the signal to build into a whig ou frenzy that you can feel brooding. It reminds me in places of the early Datsuns records it’s certainly got elements of that in its DNA which is never a bad thing. ‘White Wine Psychosis’ is the real high point of the EP with an intro to rival some Bon era DC with the lick on that fuzzed-out geetah but it veers off with a psychedelic melody that is far removed from DC and into some pretty wicked MC5 territory and that’s always a good place to be. It’s got an attitude that compliments the music on offer and that’s what should raise it above other contenders.

The EP finishes with another bruising six-minute plus romp, ‘Take The Lid Off My Darkness,’ a song that doesn’t feel almost seven minutes long. I do like the split of the guitars, with one hypnotizing the listener while the other constantly jabs at your eardrums. Get your groove on, kids, and let some Electric Shakes into your collection. I can promise you won’t regret it—buy It!

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Pup announce tour dates with a brand new video

Pup announce tour dates with a brand new video

PUP SHARE FIRST SINGLE IN TWO YEARS

“PARANOID” OUT NOW

ANNOUNCE UK & EU HEADLINE TOUR FOR MAY

Toronto punk heroes PUP – comprised of Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula, and Steve Sladkowski – released their fourth album, THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND, in 2022.


The album earned PUP universal acclaim, countless Top 10 Billboard chart positions including #1 Heatseekers, Top New Artists Albums and Alternative New Artist Albums, and a slew of sold-out shows across the globe. They’re keeping it going with an arena tour on home turf in support of Sum 41 that kicks off tomorrow night, so to celebrate they return today with a new single. The explosive, John Congleton-produced track “Paranoid” is out now, and marks PUP’s first new release in two years. 

Stefan Babcock says of the new single: “My favourite part of this song is the breakdown 1:45 in. Whenever we try and do a heavy breakdown with catchy vocals we end up sounding like the world’s worst melodic hardcore band. But somehow it worked on this song. I think because it’s so intense in that moment that it’s actually kind of funny and a bit hard to take seriously. There’s some humour in that and how it plays against what I’m yelling about in a way I really like. Plus Nestor plays the melody from ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ on the bass at the heaviest moment in the song which really cracks me up every time I hear it.”

“Paranoid” is accompanied by an ingenious, whipsmart music video by long-time PUP collaborator Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux, who said: “What started out as a way to keep the bruising and heartbreaking lyrics to ‘Paranoid’ front and centre turned into a little love letter for rock band merchandise and the unsung heroes who run the merch table. Special thanks to co-director Clem Hoeney and all the real PUP fans who came out and went so hard for a hundred takes!”


The band are also launching their MORE BAD STUFF – A PUPTHEBAND Substack. A reincarnation of the band’s zine series PUPTHEZINE, this Substack will be an ongoing digital version or, as they like to call it, “PUPTHEBAND’S brand new digital hellscape.” They will use it to post unreleased songs, discuss the writing process, play-through tracks, and to share comics, old photos, live recordings, tour stories and more. The first two posts, featuring the original 4-song EP of pre-PUP band Topanga and some Built To Spill covers by Stefan, are out now.

SIGN UP FOR “MORE BAD STUFF – APUPTHEBAND SUBSTACK” HERE 



And to follow on from their sold-out dates with Jimmy Eat World here at the tail-end of last year, PUP also announce their return to UK and EU shores for a headline tour in May with full dates listed below.

For the EU/UK dates, the band will take Illuminati Hotties along as their main support (all shows excluding Spain) and Goo will additionally join for the UK run.

Go to www.puptheband.com for all on sale and ticketing information.

Canada:

10/01/2025 – Victoria, BC @ Save On Foods Memorial Centre
11/01/2025 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
13/01/2025 – Kelowna, BC @ Prospera Place
16/01/2025 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
17/01/2025 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
18/01/2025 – Saskatoon, SK @ Sasktel Centre
20/01/2025 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Place
23/01/2025 – St. Catharines, ON @ Meridian Centre
24/01/2025 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
25/01/2025 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell
27/01/2025 – London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens
28/01/2025 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
30/01/2025 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena

UK and EU:

07/05/2025 – Birmingham, UK @ XOYO Birmingham
08/05/2025 – Leeds, UK @ Project House
10/05/2025 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz
11/05/2025 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 (TV Studio)
12/05/2025 – Newcastle, UK @ Newcastle University
13/05/2025 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory
15/05/2025 – Southampton, UK @ Engine Rooms
16/05/2025 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
18/05/2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
20/05/2025 – Cologne, Germany @ Club Volta
21/05/2025 – Hamburg, Germany @ Logo
22/05/2025 – Berlin, Germany @ Hole44
23/05/2025 – Munich, Germany @ Strom
25/05/2025 – Paris, France @ Bellevilloise
27/05/2025 – Madrid, Spain @ Sala Mon
28/05/2025 – Barcelona, Spain @ Upload
29/05/2025 – València, Spain @ Loco Club
30/05/2025 – San Sebastian, Spain @ Dabadaba​​​​​​

Midlife Crisis – ’45 to 33′ (Wild Kingdom Records)

Midlife Crisis – ’45 to 33′ (Wild Kingdom Records)

You might well be sitting there wondering why is he getting his knickers in a twist over this Midlife Crisis album well, let me take you back to the previous website I wrote for where I did the singles club round-ups, when a certain 45 landed featuring members from iconic bands such as The Hellacopters, Maryslim, Backyard Babies, Crimson Shadows, and Mike Monroe Band, offering a unique blend of punk rock n roll outta Sweden I got very interested. When the needle dropped I got a little bit more excited at what I heard. The bands complete output was a smattering of limited edition 7″ vinyl EPs, making this a highly anticipated album indeed fo anyone who indulges in some dark underground punk rock n roll like Moir.

It also Includes guest backing vocals by Danny Furious from the legendary punk band The Avengers and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, adding further punk credibility. Theres even time for a UK Subs classic ‘Same Thing’, titled ‘Samma Sak’. Oh now you’re interested. The album kicks off in style with the anthemic ‘Sick Of You’ which had me thinking was it really twenty years ago they recorded this? My God how time flies.

The band went on to release three more EPs (the latest one in 2018). Now, everything is being released on a most welcome long-playing 12″ via Wild Kingdom Records. ‘The American In Me’ lashes its flag to the mast of Turbonegro and MC5 and thunders along but then so does ‘Cranked Up Really High’ What a fuckin barn burner.

The album flows really well and considering its twenty twenty-plus years old you’d never tell, it sounds like it could have been written and recorded yesterday, simply the energy they capture is awesome. I’d love to think we’d get the chance to see a live show over here on shit island UK but I won’t hold my breath. Covering the Subs in their native tongue is cool and fits right in. It’s all pretty uptempo and sleazy none more so than the groovy ‘Here I Go And Here I Am’ complete with handclaps. The band absolutely nails the sound on the guitars it’s the perfect Steve Jones crunch with the Keith swagger while the production leans towards the classic MC5 production, especially in the vocals, which is never a bad thing.

‘Shitty Shitty Bang Bang’ is the penultimate whig out with that warm fuzz on the guitar waiting for the chorus to throw some beers around and sing along with more than a hint toward Ron Ashton and his TV Eye on you. Leaving only ‘Bye Bye Hey Hey Hey’ to kick this mother home in style. Every ones a banger with the energy of the national grid Midlife Crisis has finally delivered the album they always promised. Don’t hesitate, don’t sleep on this one get out there and pre-order with your nans Christmas record tokens if you buy one album in 2025 already then make it ’45 to 33′ you simply have to. Buy It!

PRE-ORDER links (feel free to spread):
 https://orcd.co/midlife-crisis-album

Author: Dom Daley