Latest news with #Siouxsie
Perth Now
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
UK Decay musician Steve 'Abbo' Abbott wants a wave of new bands to take a stand against the 'Andrew Tates and people out there' spreading hate
UK Decay rocker Steve 'Abbo' Abbott has called for Generation Z to debunk the nonsense spouted by divisive social media influencers like Andrew Tate and go and form bands spreading messages of inclusion. The 65-year-old guitarist has been outspoken against sexism and discrimination throughout his career and he is concerned that the progress made in the late '70s and '80s by the post-punk movement and 2 tone bands in Britain is being reversed by people like the controversial Tate who uses his huge following on social media platforms to promote misogyny and more recently antisemitic rhetoric. Abbott says it's up to the younger generation to call out people like Tate and spread the opposite messages and the best way to do it is by forming a band. Speaking about women in the music business at a Q+A to launch the Forever Now Festival, he said: "Women are still sexualised, big time. They're not just taken for their music. 'There was a lot of support for women, now I don't see it as much. 'With the Andrew Tates and people out there, now these figures like him exist and they're eating through everything that has been improving. I don't think enough men are standing up and saying, 'This is bulls***.' 'It's a call to arms for us to debunk all this crap, and probably form a band. 'We've all got opinions, is there right and wrong? Yeah there is a right. On so many issues there is a right. And we know that. Racism, bigotry, sexism, discrimination, that's wrong." The musician believes the late '70s in Britain were a similar climate to now when it comes to sexism and other issues in society but there were a host of female punk artists who changed the perception of women in music. He said: "I think 1977 was a revolution for female artists. Toyah, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Slits, X-Ray Spex, there were so many of them. Before that the female had been the sexy front person of the band. "A 15-year-old and 16-year-old me would have looked at Siouxsie [Sioux] as being my ideal woman, she was so strong. 'I still play those records, it's not nostalgia for me, it's a wake-up call, how brilliant Poly Styrene was. Before that there wasn't anything. 'Unfortunately the industry always grabs any moment of revolution and turns it into a product, it happens time and time again. I think it was a moment where women in music could tell their story. It wasn't ideal, it's still not ideal, but it was a big step." Abbott and his band UK Decay will be performing at the Forever Now Festival which is a celebration of the post-punk movement, which emerged in the UK in 1977 in the wake of the punk rock explosion spearheaded by The Sex Pistols. The line-up for Forever Now includes The Psychedelic Furs, The The, Berlin Theatre, Johnny Marr, The Damned The Jesus and Mary Chain, Billy Idol and headliners Kraftwerk among many other artists. Abbott feels proud that a movement began six decades ago is still being celebrated for its cultural impact the and music made by the artists. He said: "Festivals are now a bit everything for everybody. It's quite nice to go to a festival where it's focused. Jazz festivals are focused, blues festivals are focused. Here you've got bands that didn't quite fit into a genre back in the day all coming together. 'I think it's really interesting. 'I don't think it's a bill where you come and see one band. I've been to festivals where I've gone just to see one band, and you might discover something which is great. This is not a day of discovery, it's a day of celebration." Forever Now will take place on 22 June, 2025 at the iconic National Bowl, Milton Keynes, and tickets are on sale now via AXS and Ticketmaster.
Edinburgh Reporter
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Review – Jah Wobble live ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It's a Saturday night in Edinburgh's Cowgate and the streets are buzzing with revellers. Jah Wobble walks on stage and gives a strongman pose while sporting a 'Dub Specialist' T-shirt. There will be no argument from the trade descriptions act there. For opening number Albatross the East-End Londoner plonks down in a seat with the Fender P like punk royalty. He was after all one of the originals and given his name by Sid Vicious because the late Sex Pistol couldn't say John Wardle. The set tonight is Metal Box in Dub which delves into Wobble's time with John Lydon in Public Image Ltd. The material allows Martin Chung and former Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist Jon Klein soon get to work on those choppy razor-like riffs. Watching them all lock into a groove is sublime. Memories finds versatile and jazzy keyboardist George King delivering flourishes reminiscent of Ray Manzarek from The Doors. Klein delivers something much closer to the jagged spirit of the original and together both styles complement each other well. Two young couples down the front dance as if their lives depended on it while older fans at the back nod along in approval. It's an arresting moment when Wobble stands up to deliver the opening speech from William Shakespeare's Richard III: 'Now is the winter of our discontent' he bellows into the mike. You could hear a pin drop as he conveyed the short spoken word performance with aplomb while throwing a few laughs in before the opening bass rumble of Poptones. The affecting circular riff fills the entire space as people begin to move and sway again getting lost in the moment. We are taken back to the autumn of 1978 and treated to two versions of PiL's first single Public Image. Fan favourite Swan Lake gets a roar of approval, the infectious dub groove with Klein's unorthodox style brings just the right amount of dissonance. An epic performance by a true punk original and genre-hopping pioneer. They don't make geezers like this anymore. Jah Wobble And The Invaders Of The Heart, at La Belle Angele PHOTO Richard Purden PHOTO Richard Purden Like this: Like Related
The Independent
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The Sex Pistols announce first North American tour in 2 decades
It wasn't the night punk broke, but it was close. Nearly 50 years ago, the Sex Pistols — then made up of vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock — performed at the 100 Club Punk Special in London, a 140-capacity club, alongside Subway Sect, Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Clash. The event marked a shift for the subcultural movement; the bands here would soon bring their underground culture to reach mainstream heights. Now, the 2025 iteration of the Pistols — Jones, Cooke and Matlock joined by frontman Frank Carter (of Gallows, Pure Love and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes) — sit in the same venue to discuss their forthcoming North American tour. 'This is where it all kicked off, really, all the punk,' says Cook. This fall, the legendary punk band will embark on their first tour of North America since 2003, when they were joined by John Lydon (formerly Rotten.) The 2025 run with Carter begins Sept. 16 at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, Texas — the site of a particularly hostile show for the band when it first toured the U.S. in 1978. Jones recalls having 'pigs' hooves and bottles and what not slung at us by cowboys.' It is one of a few dates featured in three 'Live in the U.S.A.' albums, documenting the band's '78 run: Atlanta, Dallas and San Francisco. The latter will release April 25 and captures the show where the band originally called it quits. "We were thinking of breaking up in San Francisco again," Jones jokes. The 2025 tour is currently scheduled to conclude Oct. 16 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The band will hit Washington; Philadelphia; Brooklyn, New York; Montreal; Toronto; Cleveland; Detroit; Minneapolis; Denver; Seattle and San Francisco. Additional tour dates will be announced later. Pre-sale opens April 2 and 3. Tickets go on sale April 4 at 10 a.m. local time. They will perform the band's sole album, 1977's 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols Album' live in its entirety as well as other material. So, why tour the U.S. and Canada now? 'Why not?' says Jones. 'I think everybody needs this band right now. I think the world needs this band right now,' says Carter. 'And I think definitely America is screaming out for a band like the Sex Pistols.' 'At the end of the day, we're living in a really, really difficult time. So not only do people want to come and just be entertained, they want to enjoy themselves,' he continued. 'Punk is an energetic music. It's one where you can go and vent and let your hair down, hopefully in a safe manner. Fingers crossed, no bottles or pigs' hooves.' Carter fronted the Sex Pistols last year for a few U.K. dates. The band says they did not reach out to Lydon to see if he wanted to participate in this reunion tour. 'The last thing he wants to do is have anything to do with us right now,' says Jones, referring to a previous lawsuit between the singer and the band over music use in their TV series 'Pistol.' The judge ruled against Lydon's opposition. 'We wish him the best," Jones said. 'Good luck to him,' adds Matlock. 'I wish he thinks, maybe, 'good luck' to us. Probably doesn't. But over the years, John (has had) all our phone numbers, and I can't see many missed calls from him.' As for the 2025 tour: Fans shouldn't expect the violence of their 1978 run, but they should anticipate a tighter performance. 'We're a bit older but we play just as well, if not better,' says Matlock. 'And I think that's something that's got a great deal of aplomb that we're going to bring to the public over there.' Does this mean there could be new Sex Pistols music in the future? 'It's early days,' says Jones. 'Let's see what happens.'
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MeowMeowz Brings Rockin' Retail to Pasadena
For the past 15 years, Pasadena has been home to one of the coolest alternative spaces in town– a retail and live music hub called MeowMeowz that harkens back to the indie spirit of Melrose Avenue in its heyday. Owned by punk /goth music lover Veronika Sorrow, the colorful shop was inspired by stores of the past that outfitted L.A.'s rocker set long before the internet made edgy fashion easily accessible with just a click. From band t-shirts to jewelry, sunglasses to patches and buttons, Sorrow, who's originally from Alhambra and went to Pasadena City College, has accumulated a vintage oasis that in many ways is a dying breed. 'It's a homage to Retail Slut,' says Sorrow, referencing the famed punk shop where L.A. got its spiked belts and crazy color hair dye in the 80's and 90's. 'We're new and vintage clothing focusing on retro 80s fashion… I'm trying to recreate that experience of shopping in the past.'Not a square inch in the store is wasted in that pursuit. Posters –many from Sorrow's childhood– swathe the walls and ceiling, stickers cover counters and racks are packed with curated clothing and an ample stock of t-shirts designed by Sorrow, many of which mesh old with new. A recent design featured a cat meme juxtaposed with the logo of UK legends Siouxsie and The Banshees. Sorrow is in a Siouxsie tribute band herself. And speaking of cats, they are everywhere– a winking green cat head is the store mascot and logo. They've been hosting band performances in the store since it opened, and it's become a true 'scene' especially for young music fans and acts who can't go to clubs. While punk rock makes sense aesthetically, Sorrow says the store environment necessitates less aggressive genres like emo, indie and alt-rock. 'As much as we love heavier music, we don't have the space, and the kids want to come and mosh,' she says of her weekly Friday and Saturday night shows, which are alcohol-free and cost $8, with bands getting paid for their draws. 'We do rock n' roll but not anything harcore.'They also host other types of events like book signings. With the 80's resurgence alive and well in Pasadena via the Cruel World Festival at the Rose Bowl and over at The Mixx nightclub, Meowz is another Pasadena destination for those who love alternative culture. They've even hosted new wave icon book signings recently including Dale Bozzio, lead singer of Missing Persons signing her biography, Life is So Strange, and Lol Tolhurst of The Cure signing his tome about gothic culture. Those who know about MeowMeowz come back again and again, but Sorrow says her store is still sort of a best kept secret, too, which she'd like to change. 'Every day someone comes in and asks me how long I've been here and says they never heard of it or they've been driving by for years and just noticed us,' she says, somewhat flabbergasted. 'Every day!' But she adds that those same people also tell her they are glad she's still around and keeping the original flashback culture alive, too, via both the merchandise she carries and the live music she books. 'Most people who come in and say that end up being customers for life.' MeowMeowz, 2423 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Saturday, March 22, local singer/songwriter Solvei Schou and Modern Time Machines perform live starting at 8 p.m. More info here. This story originally appeared in sister publication, .
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees tributes to perform in Cumbria
TWO tribute acts of iconic 80s goth bands will be performing in Cumbria. Tributes to The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees will be performing at The Brickyard in Carlisle. The Cureheads and Siouxsie and the Budgiees are hosting a show on Saturday, December 6, 2025. A spokesperson at The Brickyard said: "The original tribute to British 'Godfathers of Goth'; The Cure. "The Cureheads have been together since 1990 and celebrated 30 years together in 2020. "They have recreated the look, sound, and atmosphere of shows by The Cure and have taken their show around the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Eastern Europe, South America, Japan, and The USA. "Expect to hear some massive anthems including Just Like Heaven, In Between Days, A Forest, Close To Me, Friday I'm in Love, Let's Go to Bed, Lullaby, Lovesong, The Walk, Boys Don't Cry, Pictures Of You, Lovecats, Why Can't I Be You and many more. "Special guests for the evening are Siouxie and The Budgiees – From the Happy House to the Hong Kong Garden Takeaway, the Budgiees aim to please any fans of the Gothic Punk Queen and her Banshees."
