Nope not a footie match (if only), but the truly superb punk stalwarts known as Chelsea have announced that they will be playing their first ever gig in Lewes at the ever popular Con Club on Saturday 13th April 2019 (from 8pm) with support from The DeRellas.
Now I know that the evening with be an absolute corker, as I have witnessed the bands play live several times of the past few years and in fact both bands shared the same bill in Brighton last July – read our report HERE.
It was in August 1976 that Gene October placed an advert in Melody Maker which led to replies from guitarist William Broad (that’s Billy Idol to us), bassist Tony James (as in Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik fame) and drummer John Towe. On October 18th they made their live debut as Chelsea supporting Throbbing Gristle at London’s ICA. It was at this time that Gene convinced the manager of gay London nightclub in Covent Garden called Shageramas, to convert the club into London’s first live punk rock venue called The Roxy – a fact for which he is given little credit.
Wind the clock forward to 2016 and Chelsea’s frontman Gene October celebrated a 40th anniversary tour and the release of the entire Chelsea back catalogue of albums in the ‘Chelsea definitive anthology’ volumes 1,2 & 3. Each volume includes three albums chronologically with a history of the band through the years. The album re-releases include lyrics, bonus tracks, demos and unreleased tracks never heard before. ‘Traitors Gate’ was finally released on collectors’ clear vinyl, ‘The Alternative’ on red vinyl and ‘Faster Cheaper Better Looking’ on white vinyl.
2017 arrived and in my opinion, Chelsea released their best ever album, in the form of a 15 track masterpiece entitled ‘Mission Impossible’. The new tuneful punk album drew inevitable comparisons to the UK Subs and The Buzzcocks and yet it’s typical Chelsea style. It’s rather refreshing to hear an album of new material from a band that has been on the scene for almost 42 years!
You can order the latest Chelsea album ‘Mission Impossible’ HERE and further details on this iconic punk band can be found HERE.
These lads are fab and fun – check out their most enjoyable 2017 tour diary video HERE.
Can purchase your Lewes concert tickets at the Punker Bunker, 4 Sydney St, Brighton BN1 4EP where there will be no booking fee or visit Resident Music in Brighton or grab them online HERE.
See you down the front!
